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Rockland St.
residents voice traffic concerns
By Mike Berger
Citizen Staff
Speeding
motorists and the potential impacts of the Downtown Streetscape
project were two of the main concerns voiced by Rockland Street
residents at a Board of Selectmen hearing Tuesday night.
Hoping to
address some of their concerns, residents offered a number of
possible options for the town to consider, including additional
stop signs, the removal of a newly-installed double line, and
the elimination of left-hand turns onto Washington Street.
Selectmen
said they will review each option with the Traffic Advisory
Committee, and will also ask Police Chief Ken Berkowitz to send
a motorcycle officer to enforce speeding limits along the
street, particularly from 3 to 7 p.m.
Residents
said they were upset that the Department of Public Works had
installed a double line along the length of Rockland Street in
the early morning hours without notification. Some said the
double line actually encouraged motorists to speed, while others
said it took away from the neighborhood feeling of a family
street.
Selectmen
Chairman John Connolly said the town had extra money for line
painting because much of it was conducted by the DPW, rather
than an outside contractor. He said the intent was to make the
street safer, but said selectmen would now review the decision
with the Traffic Advisory Committee.
Selectmen
also heard from many residents who said they were not in favor
of making Rockland Street a one-way street. Selectman Sal
Salvatori said the idea was simply one of many that had been
discussed at the Streetscape public hearings. He said final
traffic decisions concerning the downtown area will not be made
until after the Streetscape project is completed in the fall.
In other
news:
• Selectmen
received notification that Standard & Poor’s has awarded the
town a best-possible AAA bond rating, making it one of only 15
communities in the state to have received this rating. Town
Administrator Bill Friel said the rating was due to the recent
Proposition 2 1/2 override vote, as well as the town’s past
financial practices.
• Selectmen
accepted the bulk of the recommendations of the Water Rate Study
Committee for planned water and sewer increases, but modified
the proposed increase for apartment owners, who would have seen
an average jump of 58.2 percent from a year ago.
After
consultation with Friel and Finance Director Jim Murgia,
selectmen decided to revert the apartment rate to that of the
significantly lower residential multi-condo rate. The new water
rates will take effect July 1.
• Eagle
Scouts Liam Bergschneider and Thomas Powell received letters of
commendation and proclamations from the town thanking them for
their public service projects at Pequitside Farm. Powell
supervised a bridge and drainage project for one of the trails,
and Bergschneider built a handicap-accessible ramp by the barn.
Salvatori estimated that the two projects saved the town $50,000
in materials and labor.
• Selectmen
accepted with regret the resignation of Judy Nelson, secretary
to the Board of Selectmen and a key contributor in the town
administrator and selectmen’s offices.
• Selectmen
have asked that anyone desiring to serve on the Planning Board
send a letter of interest to Town Hall by July 2. Both selectmen
and the remaining Planning Board members are looking to fill the
vacancy left by Jill Hayes, who recently announced her
resignation.
June 26, 2008
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