Wednesday, November 17, 2010

WATER COMMISSION TO MEET THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2010

CITY OF BROCKTON
WATER COMMISSION
39 MONTAUK RD
AGENDA
November 18, 2010
9:00 A.M.
1. Opening Remarks
Approval of minutes: October 14, 2010
2. Report from the DPW Commissioner – Michael Thoreson – NO REPORT
3. Report from the Superintendent of Utilities – Larry Rowley – NO REPORT
October’s Monthly Report – included in meeting information
Water Mains
4. Report from the Water Systems Manager – Brian Creedon
Staffing
Flows
5. New Business:
9:15 AM - Water Connections:
9:15 AM – Plot 79 Dover Street – Affordable Properties
9:25 AM – 214 West Elm Street – Affordable Properties
6. Old Business:
Permits Issued – next report December 2010
Current Year Budget Report
Meter Access Policy – in Finance
Irrigation Meters/systems –
7. Other Business
8. Adjourn
Meter Replacement – AMR RFP out to bid

Saturday, November 13, 2010

FINANCE COMMITTEE TO MEET HOPEFUL DOWNTOWN DEVELOPERS

     The Finance Committee will meet this Monday, November 15, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber to consider several resolves. You can find the agenda in our Finance meeting section. One of the Resolves is that Trinity Financial is appearing before the Committee to discuss what they plan to do with the Enterprise Development and you can read more about it on Tom Monahans site and how he met with them and about the hopeful future development of 219 apartments and commercial complex downtown. The public is encouraged to attend and show support for this development.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

TRAFFIC COMMISSION EXTENDS SCHOOLS FLASHING LIGHTS HOURS FOR STUDENTS SAFETY

     The Traffic Commission voted tonight in a special meeting in response to a student that was hit in a school crossing last month on Pearl Street in front of the Hancock Elementary School to extend the yellow flashing lights in all school zones. The matter was brought up after the student was hit in the crosswalk when the lights where off. In that accident, speed was not a factor but operator error.

     In Response to that accident the Brockton Police Department and Traffic Commission reduced the posted speed on Pearl Street in the area of the school which includes a park from 40mph to 30mph, had the school sign repainted on the road in front of the Hancock School for better visibility, increased traffic enforcement on Pearl Street and increased the time of the the flashing yellow lights from 30 minutes before to 40-45 minutes before school starts and 30 minutes after school ends according to Captain Leon McCabe speaking at the meeting.

     Those measures were voted on and approved October 28th by the Traffic Commission. The day before, the Security/Safety/Transportation Subcommittee of the Brockton School Committee met and in that meeting they wanted the yellow flashing lights in all school zones on from 7 a.m.-9:30 a.m and from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. and have the request at the Commission's October 28th meeting but because the meeting were so close together the information didn't cross path in time so this meeting was called to clarify what the Subcommittee of the Brockton School requested.

     The Brockton School Committee recommended those hours based on factors that have changed over the past 3 years according to Bill Carpenter of the School Committee."3 years we had 4 junior high schools. Today we have 8 middle schools, 8 schools that have middle grade schools in them, 6 middles and 2 K-8, Our walk zone is 2 miles for middle schools students, so if you take those 8 schools on the map and draw two mile radius's around all 8 schools, it basically blanket's the whole city." Another reason given for the longer hours are because Brocktons schools start at different times in the morning and end at different times, so a blanket effect would cover everyone.

     The decision to have the flashing yellow lights on that long was open to discussion. One of the main concerns of the traffic commission was if those lights are on too early before school starts and too late after school ends, the public would start ignoring those lights. Captain McCabe got in touch with Massachusetts Department of Transportation and in an email back to him they recommend the yellow flashing lights should only be in operation when children are going to or leaving, if the lights were simply left on all day, their effectiveness would be compromised as they would typically be ignored for the most part by motorist.

     Massachusetts law allows for the yellow flashing lights to be on for one hour before school and half hour after school. The intent is if you are driving and see the yellow lights on there are children in the area but if the yellow lights are flashing and you see no children then the yellow lights don't have validation.

     After discussion for about 20 minutes about what would be the best hours for the lights, City Councilor Tom Monahan suggested to look at each school and go to the maximum limit of one hour in the morning for each school and its start time and in the afternoon to go 30 minutes for each school and its end time. The discussion continued about educating the parents and the kids about crossing with the yellow lights because some kids might get up early to go to school when the lights are not on at all.

     Councilor-at-Large Todd Petti made an interesting point and got some laughter going in the meeting when he said "I found it pretty Ironic today when I was working in Newton" and one of the members answered back "Ironic that you were working or ironic that you were in Newton." Mr. Petti held up the Newton Tab and he said  "Two students struck by cars in Newton in 2 minutes, a young girl according to the story was walking with her mother and the crossing guard was 50 yards down the street and this girl according to the story darted out between 2 cars and was hit and in the commotion after the accident the car hit another girl, so tying this in with educating the students, its happening elsewhere, in one town 2 kids being hit, thankfully they are OK."

      The Traffic Commission passed the motion to have the hours of the school crossing lights for a one hour window in the morning and a one half hour window in the afternoon based upon the start and end time of the school day for that particular school. The measure was passed and the Board was satisfied. One other matter that was attended to was 3 schools need lights, the Ashfield School, Goddard School and the BB Russell. Recommendations were made to purchase solar lights and to look at the needs of those specific schools because one of the schools uses transportation.

      A motion was voted to look at this matter on a later date. So in one night and with swift decision making our children will hopefully be better protected. We all need to do our part by paying attention to those lights and teaching the children to look both ways and cross with the yellow lights. The lighting changes are expected to go into effect within a month so slow down and save a life.

SPECIAL TRAFFIC MEETING TONIGHT