Brookfield, Vermont

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY MARCH 20, 2019 5:30 PM
BROOKFIELD TOWN OFFICE,
40 RALPH ROAD, BROOKFIELD, VT

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

The following members attended: Mike Stoddard, Stuart Edson, Michael Rutkovsky and Lew Stowell.
Kate Forrer attended as a guest, Steve Schaefer and Dennis Laroque attended as members of the public.

1. Review and Approve Minutes of February 27, 2019. Approved unanimously

2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public.
Steve Schaefer asked why TH 56 Church Street has traffic signs. He also suggested that the ash trees that are cut because of the EAB Plan be turned into lumber to be used in town construction projects such as the Town Garage addition. Both items were discussed and will be considered in the future.

3. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills. The OCSD Patrol Reports were discussed along with the monthly spread sheet showing hours and costs to date. It was noted that there is $7,791 remaining to be spent in the FY 2019 OCSD contract in the next 4 months. It was also noted that there were 7 traffic stops made on Ridge Rd for speeding.

4. Continuing Review of Parking and Speed Enforcement on Stone Road. There was discussion of the traffic hazard at 2141 Stone Rd and the June 26, 1990 Brookfield Board of Adjustment Minutes. It was agreed to recommend to the Select Board that an attorney, perhaps the new Town Attorney, determine the enforceable legal strategy to guide any survey conducted to determine the Town ROW and other significant aspects of the issue.

5. Discussion of radar speed cart locations and schedule in 2019. The Draft Speed Cart Plan was discussed and approved. It was hoped that the cart would be deployed beginning in April.

6. New E-911 Sign Order. It was agreed that the signs will be advertised on Front Porch Forum by L. Stowell and the order submitted before the end of March.

7. Public Safety Advisory Committee Website Use. S. Edson to do more research on analytics.

8. Developing and implementing the Draft Emerald Ash Borer Threat Plan. The draft Task List was discussed. Kate Forrer made suggestions which were approved. Kate Forrer to ask members of the Conservation Commission whether they wanted to have a member participate on the EAB Task Force. Steve Schaefer’s suggestion on Ash to be included for consideration. M. Rutkovsky and M. Stoddard willing to assist with inventories.

9. April Public Safety Message. April Safety Tips message to be placed on the Public Safety page of the Town Website by S. Edson and on Front Porch Forum by L. Stowell.

10. Setting the Next Meeting. April 24, 2019 at 5:30 PM

11. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting. No special guests to be invited but it was hoped that LT Scott Clouatre, OCSD might be able to attend.

12. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 6:58 PM.

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2019 5:30 PM
BROOKFIELD TOWN OFFICE,
40 RALPH ROAD, BROOKFIELD, VT

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

The following members attended: Mike Stoddard, Stuart Edson, Michael Rutkovsky and Lew Stowell.
LT Scott Clouatre, OCSD attended as a guest.

1. Review and Approve Minutes of January 23, 2019. Reviewed and approved unanimously.

2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public. None attended.

3. Joy Kacik’s resignation received and accepted. The committee appreciated the work she has done and acknowledged her busy work schedule out of state.

4. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills. The Committee requested that all of Stone Road be included in patrols. OCSD is planning to provide the Speed Cart for more times but shorter periods in 2019 with quicker turn around for data. The PSAC will provide a list of likely sites for the Speed Cart to LT Clouatre. Lt Clouatre’s cruiser parked at his new house on the edge of Pond Village may also be a deterrent to speeding in the village. Patrols will be more focused on drive times when possible. Patrol reports are to be more readable. The committee requested that bills and reports be sent out earlier in the month.

5. Continuing Review of Parking and Speed Enforcement on Stone Road- Deep snow has made a bad situation worse.

6. Discussion of movable radar speed display signs and the data that they produce. – Speed Cart data from 2018 still not available. There may be some second hand permanently mounted radar signs available soon.

7. New E-911 Sign Order- L Stowell to contact Vermont Correctional Industries (VCI) for pricing and shipping information for a new purchase opportunity to be offered at Town Meeting.

8. Public Safety Advisory Committee Participation in the Town Meeting- All of the committee members present will attend Town Meeting. A request will be made for additional members.

9. Public Safety Advisory Committee Email Group Use. S. Edson to add D. Mason and M. Rutkovsky to the list.

10. Continuing discussion of the of the Emerald Ash Borer threat and Draft Plan. Kate Forrer to make a short presentation and handouts will be on the chairs at Town Meeting.

11. March Public Safety Message. The draft message to be finalized by L. Stowell with assistance from LT Clouatre.

12. Setting the Next Meeting. March 20, 2019 at 5:30 PM at the Town Office.

13. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting. None to be invited.

14. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM.

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

UNAPPROVED MINUTES
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 2019 5:30 PM
BROOKFIELD TOWN OFFICE,
40 RALPH ROAD, BROOKFIELD, VT

The following members attended: Mike Stoddard, Stuart Edson, Michael Rutkovsky and Lew Stowell.

1. Review and Approve Minutes of December 19, 2018. Approved unanimously

2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public. No members of the public attended.

3. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills. The OCSD bill for December has not been received yet.

4. Continuing Review of Parking Enforcement on Stone Road- Further action is up to the Select Board. The committee will be prepared to answer questions at the March Town Meeting.

5. Annual Report to the Select Board- Discussed and approved.

6. Public Safety Advisory Committee Report for the Town Annual Report- after discussion it was approved to submit the “Annual Report to the Select Board” in its entirety to Jeff Kimmel who is the editor of the town report.

7. Continuing Discussion of the of the Emerald Ash Borer threat. The draft EAB Plan was reviewed. It was agreed that it needed further work and would be handed out at the town meeting as a “draft”. The windshield inventory conducted by the RTCC Environmental Resource Management class and Kate Forrer on 1/23/2019 was discussed and it was hoped that the class might conduct further inventories. It was mentioned that if there is widespread assault of Ash trees by the Emerald Ash Borer in Brookfield as forecast, heavy equipment will be needed to cut and remove trees. If the cut trees could be chipped as biofuel, the cost to Brookfield taxpayers could be reduced substantially. There will need to be a presentation at the town meeting and it was hoped that Kate Forrer would be able to do at least the forestry portion. A request for additional volunteers to help on this project will be made at the meeting.

8. Discussion of movable radar speed display signs and the data that they produce. Captain Kyle Kapitanski, OCSD has been unable to get into the Speed Cart because the locks are frozen but will send the data as soon as he can gain entry.

9. February Public Safety Message. The February message will be about Winter safety around the home.

10. Setting the Next Meeting. Wednesday February 27, 2019 at 5:30 PM.

11. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting. OCSD was unable to attend this meeting but plans to attend on February 27, 2019.

12. Adjournment. Adjourned at 6:36 PM.

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2018 5:30 PM

BROOKFIELD TOWN OFFICE,

40 RALPH ROAD, BROOKFIELD, VT

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

The following members attended: Dan Mason, Mike Stoddard, Stuart Edson, Michael Rutkovsky and Lew Stowell.

1. Review and Approve Minutes of November 14, 2018: Approved unanimously.
2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public: No Members of the Public attended.
3. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills: Reviewed the bill for the October period of patrols.  OCSD provided patrol logs for review.
4. Continuing Review of Parking Enforcement on Stone Road:  Determined that L. Stowell & S. Edson will present the Select Board with written recommendations to include placing it upon the March 5, 2019 Town Meeting Warning.
5. Annual Report to the Select Board: Agreed that both this report and the one for the Town Annual Report be substantially the same.
6. Public Safety Advisory Committee Report for the Town Annual Report: The draft circulated at the meeting will be revised by L. Stowell & S. Edson in places as discussed by the committee.
7. Continuing discussion of the of the Emerald Ash Borer threat: Agreed to recommend to the Select Board that this issue should be on the March 5, 2019 Town Meeting Warning.  Experts in the field could be invited to make presentations at the Town Meeting.  One or more “windshield” inventories need to be performed to determine roads in Brookfield with the highest concentrations of Ash trees in the Town highway right of way.  The option of hiring a contractor with a “Feller-Buncher” and other associated equipment should be recommended to the Select Board.  Also, it is recommended that the option of having the contractor harvest all trees regardless of specie in the right of way which could lower the cost substantially be presented at the Town Meeting.
8. Increasing Parking in Pond Village: Tabled until Spring 2019 because of the early Winter.
9. Discussion of movable radar speed display signs and the data that they produce: More data is requested from OCSD on Speed Cart deployments in 2018.  Stowell to request again.
10. January Public Safety Message: Winter Back Road Safety Tips discussed. Stowell to write and send to S. Edson.
11. Setting the Next Meeting: Wednesday January 23, 2019 at 5:30 PM.
12. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting: Captain Kyle Kapitanski, OCSD will be invited by L. Stowell.
13. Adjournment:  Meeting adjourned at 6:43 PM.