Public Safety Committee Minutes 8/21/19

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Draft Minutes

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 21, 2019, 5:30 PM

BROOKFIELD TOWN OFFICE,

40 RALPH ROAD, BROOKFIELD, VT

Mike Stoddard, Stuart Edson, Michael Rutkovsky and Lew Stowell and LT Barbara Kessler, VSP, Guest. Teresa Godfrey, James Godfrey, Robert Godfrey, Richard Pecor JR, Ron Lovejoy, Erik Nielsen, Lynn Lampson, Carl Bushey, Gene Parent, Evangeline Parent and Mike Lefebvre, Members of the Public.

1. Review and Approve Minutes of July 24, 2019. Approved unanimously.
2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public. Eleven residents of the Northfield Roadpresented safety concerns about truck and large agricultural vehicle traffic on Northfield Road.  They stated that there was a high volume of vehicles exceeding the 24,000 pound weight limit, traveling very fast, making considerable noise, often so wide it was unsafe to meet them and causing a great deal of dust.  There was also concern expressed about the odor of the liquid manure being spread and the lack of covers on trucks carrying harvested forage and crushed stone.  James Godfrey provided photos of vehicles causing them distress and of repairs that needed to be made on the Northfield Road.  A State Trooper had told James Godfrey that the Brookfield weight limits were not posted on the VTrans website and were therefore unenforceable.  LT Kessler recommended that the committee contact the DMV truck unit (LT Giolito) for enforcement of truck weight issues and clarification of laws.  L Stowell will contact DMV.  Efforts by residents to request safer and better behavior of the equipment operators and owners have been so far unsuccessful.  L Stowell stated that the town ordinance specifies 35 MPH but that there were no signs currently posted.  He promised to contact R Peck to see the status of speed sign replacement.  Committee members encouraged the residents to attend a future Select Board Meeting and promised to send recommendations to the Select Board.
3. Review of Radar Speed Cart Deployments.  Three deployments, Route 65 near the Post Office, Route 14 in East Brookfield and Stone Road at the I-89 emergency entrance were discussed.  Drive times had a significant number of speeders and were more likely for enforcement efforts. 
4. GUEST: VSP LT Barbara Kessler, Station Commander, Royalton Barracks.  Lt Kessler explained the VSP statewide and at her barracks was experiencing a shortage of personnel.  At this time accidents and other emergencies often meant that there were not many troopers to patrol rural towns.  However, the Speed Cart data was helpful and She would urge patrols on roads where Speed Cart data suggested excessive speed.  She also promised to send information on legal requirements for pedestrians for the safety message.  She suggested that the committee look into walking paths.
5.  Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills.  OCSD has increased the patrol hour rate from $46 to $47.  This Summer patrol hours have increased as requested.  June had 37 hours and July had 31.5.
6. Continuing Review of Parking & Law Enforcement on Brookfield Roads.  The survey of the Stone Road Town ROW is proceeding.  The parking sign at the East end of the Floating Bridge has disappeared.  Cars are parking illegally.  Some thought will be given to a noise ordinance.
7. E-911 Sign and Traffic Sign Status.  The new price for E-911 signs from Vermont Correctional Industries is $5.25 which includes shipping to the town office.  The order form for Brookfield property owners to buy signs will go out with the tax bills soon.  Persons wanting to have their signs shipped instead of picking them up at the Town Office will incur an additional shipping charge
8. Emerald Ash Borer Progress.  Inquiries to GMP and WEC for joint efforts are being made.
9. Public Safety Advisory Committee Website Use. Efforts are continuing.
10. September Public Safety Message. There was discussion of the draft and S Edson will review the draft and make suggestions.
11. Setting the Next Meeting:  September 25, 2019
12. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting.  L Stowell will see if LT Giolito, DMV Truck Team, or one of his officers is available to attend as a guest.
13. Adjournment. Was at 7:10 PM.