Stuart Edson

Public Safety Committee minutes from 1/23/19

 Meeting Minutes, Public Safety Advisory Committee
Jan 272019
 

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.

Public Safety Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda

 Miscellaneous
Jan 212019
 

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 2019 5:30 PM
BROOKFIELD TOWN OFFICE,
40 RALPH ROAD, BROOKFIELD, VT

AGENDA

1. Review and Approve Minutes of December 19, 2018 [12/19/18 Minutes]
2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public
3. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills [OCSD Patrol Hours]
4. Continuing Review of Parking Enforcement on Stone Road
5. Annual Report to the Select Board
6. Public Safety Advisory Committee Report for the Town Annual Report
7. Continuing discussion of the of the Emerald Ash Borer threat
8. Discussion of movable radar speed display signs and the data that they produce. [Data?]
9. February Public Safety Message [Draft Message]
10. Setting the Next Meeting
11. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting
12. Adjournment

Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes 12/19/18

 Meeting Minutes, Public Safety Advisory Committee
Dec 292018
 

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.

Public Safety Committee Meeting Agenda 12/19/18

 Public Safety Advisory Committee
Dec 172018
 

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2018 5:30 PM

BROOKFIELD TOWN OFFICE

40 RALPH ROAD, BROOKFIELD, VT

AGENDA

  1. Review and Approve Minutes of November 14, 2018. [11/14/18 Minutes]
  2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public.
  3. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills. [OCSD Patrol Hours]
  4. Continuing Review of Parking Enforcement on Stone Road
  5. Annual Report to the Select Board
  6. Public Safety Advisory Committee Report for the Town Annual Report
  7. Continuing discussion of the of the Emerald Ash Borer threat.
  8. Increasing Parking in Pond Village.
  9. Discussion of movable radar speed display signs and the data that they produce. [Data?]
  10. January Public Safety Message. [Draft Message]
  11. Setting the Next Meeting.
  12. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting.
  13.  Adjournment.

December 2018 Brookfield Public Safety Message

 Public Safety Advisory Committee
Dec 042018
 

DECEMBER 2018 BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE

This message was supposed to be about safe driving in the upcoming Winter months.  Brookfield has a lot of unpaved back roads which pose a number of additional hazards in the Winter.  Thoroughly cleaning your car off before starting your journey and a number of other good suggestions were planned.  Then Winter struck.  Many of us have lost power several times already and some of us have not had power restored yet from the November 26/27 storm.  While the utility crews work to restore our power, please exercise caution.

  • If you are fortunate enough to have a generator or the use of one, place it outdoors well clear of doors and windows. Never run a generator in your house or garage.  Consult with an electrician if your house has not already been wired for a generator.
  • Be extra careful of your woodstove. Do not use a make shift wood stove or stove pipe that could catch your house on fire.
  • If you are elderly or disabled and out of power, please contact a neighbor, family, friends or dial 211 and alert them to your situation.
  • This may not be the last of the power outages this Winter. Start planning now for the next one.  Do you need your house wired for a generator?  Do you need a generator?  If so, how large and what type?  What normal or special functions should you plan for that depend upon electricity.  Water for your animals, starting your snow blower or tractor, charging your cell phone(s), etc.?

Good luck with your response to our early Winter and think about the possible consequences of your actions before you take them.

The Brookfield Public Safety Advisory Committee

ECFiber Update

 Miscellaneous
Nov 142018
 

ECFiber has made some inroads into Brookfield during the past two years.  High-speed internet arrived in the Kibbee neighborhood in August 2016 courtesy of a grant from the state to fund a Business Broadband Improvement District. West Brookfield also now has ECFiber through the village and up to parts of Eagle Peak Road. Over the past couple of months ECFiber has been doing the preparatory work that will enable it to provide high speed internet to our town.  During the summer, ECFiber borrowed the money it needed to finance the Brookfield build.  In the fall, the Brookfield Hub was built, and just recently ECFiber received the final licenses that will allow it to put its fiber on the utility poles throughout the entire town.  By the end of the year ECFiber will start to put its fiber on those poles, and shortly after that it will start to hook up subscribers.  It is the stated goal of ECFiber to provide high speed internet access to all Brookfield residents who want it by the end of the first quarter of 2019.

Public Safety Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda 11/14/18

 Public Safety Advisory Committee
Nov 122018
 

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2018 5:30 PM

BROOKFIELD TOWN OFFICE,

40 RALPH ROAD, BROOKFIELD, VT

AGENDA

  1. Review and Approve Minutes of October 24, 2018. [10/24/18 Minutes]
  2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public.
  3. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills. [OCSD Patrol Hours]
  4. Traffic Law Enforcement and TORC Traffic Study. Rita Seto’s Clarification
  5. Continuing Review of Parking Enforcement on Stone Road.
  6. Reflective E-911 House Number Signs Project Progress.
  7. Continuing discussion of the of the Emerald Ash Borer threat. Ray Peck, BHD Interview
  8. Increasing Parking in Pond Village.
  9. Keeping in Touch with the Select Board and the Highway Department.
  10. Discussion of movable radar speed display signs and the data that they produce. [Data?]
  11. December Public Safety Message. [Draft Message]
  12. Setting the Next Meeting.
  13. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting.
  14. Adjournment

Public Safety Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 10/24/18

 Miscellaneous
Oct 302018
 

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY October 24, 2018 5:30 PM

BROOKFIELD TOWN OFFICE

40 RALPH ROAD, BROOKFIELD, VT

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

The following members attended: Stuart Edson, Mike Stoddard, Dan Mason, Michael Rutkovsky and Lew Stowell. Kara Lake attended as member of the public. Kate Forrer attended as a project advisor. Captain Kyle Kapitanski attended as a representative of OCSD.

  1. Review and Approve Minutes of September 26, 2018. Approved unanimously.
  2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public. Kara Lake appeared with a progress report on determining sentiment in East Brookfield for lowering and extending the speed limit in East Brookfield.  She will have more signatures next month.
  3. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills. Captain Kyle Kapitanski, OCSD answered questions about OCSD activities. There are efforts to hire more Deputies.  He promised to send patrol logs with the monthly bill.  The new OCSD website to have more services available soon.  He agreed to increase patrols during drive-times on Stone Rd, Ridge Rd, West street and others. He was appreciative of offers by Brookfield residents to have either the speed cart or a cruiser parked on their property.to reduce speeding
  4. Traffic Law Enforcement and TORC Traffic Study L Stowell to send the TORC traffic Study to Captain Kapitanski and to clarify some terms with Rita Seto of TORC.
  5. Continuing Review of Parking Enforcement on Stone Road.  Kate Forrer asked if there could be more signs and movable “Green Men” found to warn motorist of increased pedestrians including children during events at the Old Town Hall.
  6. Reflective E-911 House Number Signs Project Progress. Signs have been ordered. Dan Mason will pick them up when they are ready.
  7. Continuing discussion of the of the Emerald Ash Borer threat. Green Mountain Power and Washington Electric discussed as resources where power lines and town toads co-exist.  Kate Forrer mentioned the availability of grants through UVM Extension to plan, inventory, compile data, etc. She will send the grant application to L. Stowell.  There will be about 30 days to respond.  Preparation of a grant application approved and to be passed on to the Select Board.   Stowell and S. Edson to co-ordinate with R. Peck, tree warden about grant goals. M. Rutkovsky willing to participate in the EAB Project.
  8. Increasing Parking in Pond Village. Edson to follow up with R. Peck, Road Foreman.
  9. Keeping in Touch with the Select Board and the Highway Department. L. Stowell sending Agendas and Minutes to key town officials with occasional phone calls.
  10. Discussion of movable radar speed display signs and the data that they produce. Captain Kapitanski to get data to L. Stowell from most recent placement of Speed Cart and to provide a briefing on the different report styles available.
  11. November Public Safety Message. Message approved to be placed on the town website and Front Porch Forum.
  12. Setting the Next Meeting. Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 5:30 PM
  13. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting. Participants or advisors in on-going projects may attend.
  14. Adjournment at 7:15 PM

Public Safety Advisory Committee Meeting 10/24/18

 Miscellaneous
Oct 222018
 

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 24, 2018 5:30 PM

BROOKFIELD TOWN OFFICE,

40 RALPH ROAD, BROOKFIELD, VT

AGENDA

  1. Review and Approve Minutes of September 26, 2018. [9/2618 Minutes]
  2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public.
  3. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills. [OCSD Patrol Hours]
  4. Traffic Law Enforcement and TORC Traffic Study.
  5. Continuing Review of Parking Enforcement on Stone Road
  6. Reflective E-911 House Number Signs Project Progress.
  7. Continuing discussion of the of the Emerald Ash Borer threat. Dan Weston, WEC Interview
  8. Increasing Parking in Pond Village.
  9. Keeping in Touch with the Select Board and the Highway Department.
  10. Discussion of movable radar speed display signs and the data that they produce. [Data?]
  11. November Public Safety Message. [Draft Message]
  12. Setting the Next Meeting.
  13. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting.
  14. Adjournment

Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes from 9/26/18

 Meeting Minutes, Public Safety Advisory Committee
Oct 022018
 

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY September 26, 2018  5:30 PM

BROOKFIELD TOWN OFFICE

RALPH ROAD, BROOKFIELD, VT

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

  1. Review and Approve Minutes of August 22,2018: Approved unanimously.
  2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public: None attended.
  3. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills: Only 18.5 hours of patrols performed in this fiscal year. Dan Mason to explore an alternative provider or law enforcement services and report to committee at October meeting.
  4. Traffic Law Enforcement: Members received complaints about speeding and offers for places to place the speed cart or a cruiser with radar.  L Stowell to contact OCSD.
  5. Continuing Review of Parking Enforcement on Stone Road: Committee awaiting second traffic study report from Two Rivers Ottaquechee Regional Commission (TRORC). S. Edson to contact Braintree for their experience with a similar situation. L Stowell to contact TRORC on likely report date.
  6. Keeping in Touch with the Select Board and Highway Department: L Stowell to brief J. Benson. See below.
  7. Discussion of the threat of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on Town Roads and power lines. Received draft EAB plan from Randolph.  That plan estimates healthy Ash tree removal by contractors at $300.00 each and unhealthy or dead Ash trees between $375.00 and $750.00 each.  Stowell to send link to members. L. Stowell contacted GMP and will get their plan soon.  L Stowell to contact Washington Electric Coop for their plan.
  8. Increasing Parking in Pond Village: S. Edson to contact R. Peck for status on exploration of town and MacBruce land adjacent to existing Town Office parking lot.
  9. Reflective E-911 House Number Signs Project Progress: Godfrey received a new lower price quote. D. Mason to check with provider (VCI) and confirm price and reflectivity and report to committee.  Committee may have to contact purchasers and have checks replaced with new lower amounts.
  10. Discussion of movable radar speed display signs and the data that they produce: No recent data received. L Stowell to contact OCSD.
  11. October Public Safety Message. Stowell to write and send to S. Edson for website.
  12. Setting the Next Meeting: Wednesday October 24, 2018 at 5:30 PM.
  13. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting: None invited, may have members of the public attend.
  14. Adjournment at 7:00 PM.
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