Brookfield, Vermont

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021, 5:30 PM

The Brookfield Public Safety Advisory Committee met in person as warned.

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

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

5:30 PM: Call to Order:  There were no additions or deletions to the agenda

• Review, revise or approve the October 20, 2021 meeting minutes. Approved as written. 4-0.
• Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public- No members of the public attended.
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety- Developing a list of options. The committee discussed the draft options and added some new ones.  They then divided the options into two categories:  ones that could be accomplished in the near term and those that either needed more research or would take a longer time to accomplish.  L Stowell to rearrange the Options as determined by the committee and to submit to the Select Board as recommendations for action.
• Review and Discussion of OCSD Activities including Patrol Hours, Reports and Bills. The OCSD has performed 82 hours of patrols costing $ 3852.00 in the July to October time period which is approximately 30% of the FY 2022 budget.  The committee also received a letter from Sheriff Bohnyak documenting why he was increasing the cost of a patrol hour in FY 2023 from $48.00 to $52.00.  L Stowell to thank Sherriff Bohnyak for providing advance warning of the price increase so the committee has time to make recommendations to the Select Board for a OCSD budget in FY 2023.  The committee will take the matter up in their December meeting.
• Speed Cart Deployments- There were no new deployments. L Stowell to contact Cpt Clouatre as to whether the Peed Cart season is over.
• Traffic, Road Name and Weight Limit Sign Status- L Stowell to contact Dennis Larocque and Kate Threlkeld about obtaining a detailed traffic sign inventory of what is in place, what is ordered and what is still needed so that the Committee can make recommendations on the FY 2023 budget.
• Traffic Ordinance Status- No change.
• Parking Issues in Brookfield- Still being reviewed.
• December Public Safety Message- S. Edson to work on a pedestrian bicycle safety portion and Mike Stoddard to work on Covid 19 and holiday safety tips.
• Setting the Next Meeting-December 15, 2021 at 5:30 PM at the Brookfield Congregational Church
• Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting- LT Hugh O’Donnell, Royalton Barracks Commander, VSP is tentatively scheduled.  L Stowell will confirm.
• Final Public Comment- No members of the public attended.
• Entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:48 PM. Approved 4-0.

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021, 5:30 PM

The Brookfield Public Safety Advisory Committee met in person as warned.

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

The following members attended: Mike Stoddard, Dan Mason, Michael Rutkovsky, Stuart Edson and Lew Stowell.  Kate Threlkeld, Select Board Member and Todd Eaton, Program Manager Vermont Local Road Program also attended.

• 5:30 PM: Called to Order. There were no additions or deletions to the agenda or members of the public attending.
• The September 22, 2021 meeting minutes were approved as written. 5-0-0 in favor.
• Presentation: Resources and Ideas for Safety on Town Roads Todd Eaton, Branch Manager, Vermont Local Roads (VLR), Vermont Agency of Transportation. Todd explained his program as a federally mandated program for the State to assist municipal highway departments.  They are primarily focused on training and technical assistance for municipal highway crews however have provided resources for the Public Safety Committee in the past and will in the future.  L Stowell will check with Tim Higgins and Dennis LaRocque to be sure that the Highway Department is receiving timely information about courses, technical assistance and other opportunities being offered.  In particular was a software program to document resources such as bridges, culverts, equipment, etc. There could be some Covid-19 funds for safety programs.
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety. The committee members were saddened by the recent pedestrian accident on Churchill Road.  Stowell presented Jon Binhammer’s email.  The pedestrian and bicycle safety effort initially focused on Pond Village will be expanded to all the town and State roads in Brookfield.  A draft pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvement Suggestion List will be reviewed and added to by committee members for the November meeting. The future monthly safety messages will include at least one tip relating to pedestrian and bicycle safety.  The safety tips will include educating the public on State laws that may have changed since they took the driver’s exam.
• Review and Discussion of OCSD Activities including Patrol Hours, Reports and Bills. The September bill was reviewed.  L Stowell to check on the August bill.
• Speed Cart Deployments. The East Brookfield deployment was reviewed.  Stowell to contact Scott Clouatre about using the data to patrol during probable times and places of high-speed offenders.
• Traffic, Road Name and Weight Limit Sign Status. Not aware of action from the Select Board.
• Traffic Ordinance Status. Not aware of action from the Select Board.
• Parking Issues in Brookfield. The committee is continuing to explore the best solutions for parking at the Floating Bridge.
• November Public Safety Message. Stowell to create the message with a focus on educating the public about pedestrian and bicycle safety.
• Setting the Next Meeting. November 17, 2021 at the Brookfield Congregational Church at 5:30 PM
• Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting. Stowell will invite either Tim Higgins, Road Crew Foreman or the new VSP Lieutenant in Royalton depending upon availability.
• Entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting. Approved adjourning meeting at 6:58 by 5-0-0.

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021, 5:30 PM

The Brookfield Public Safety Advisory Committee met in person as warned.

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

The following members attended: Michael Rutkovsky, Stuart Edson, Mike Stoddard and Lew Stowell.  Jon Kaplan, guest speaker and Skip Smith, member of the public attended.

5:30 PM: Called to Order. There were no additions or deletions to the agenda.

Review, revise or approve the August 25, 2021 meeting minutes.  Approved 4-0.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Presentation by Jon Kaplan, P.E. | Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Operations and Safety Bureau, Vermont Agency of Transportation.

Jon Kaplan presented a power point presentation on bicycle and pedestrian safety along with three handouts.  He answered questions from Skip Smith and members of the committee.  He left the meeting with a list of questions to research and get back to the committee.  The discussion during and after the presentation focused on possible solutions to improving pedestrian and bicycle safety in Pond Village specifically and roads in Brookfield generally.  The Committee will gather as many solutions as possible and then determining their likely pros and cons before making recommendations to the Select Board.

Review and Discussion of OCSD Activities including Patrol Hours, Reports and Bills.  No bill or report has been received for August so far.

Speed Cart Deployments- The reports from the September Southbound Ridge Road deployment was reviewed and discussed.

Communication with the Select Board- Chairperson Stowell will send an email to the Select Board members requesting that a Select Board member be assigned as liaison to the Public Safety Committee to improve communication between the board and the committee.

Traffic, Road Name and Weight Limit Sign Status- Chairperson Stowell has spoken with Road Foreman Tim Higgins and because of road projects such as the Southern end of Twin Pond Road no additional signs have been installed.

Traffic Ordinance Status- The ordinance is awaiting a public meeting which is made problematic by the increase in the Delta Variant of Covid-19.

Parking Issues in Brookfield- The Summer Season concluding has reduced the number of vehicles to needing to be parked.

October Public Safety Message- L. Stowell will send some previous safety messages to M. Stoddard as assistance in preparing the next Safety Message.

Setting the Next Meeting- October 20, 2021 at 5:30 PM at the Brookfield Congregational Church.

Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting- Todd Eaton of the Local Roads Program, AOT will be invited.

A motion to adjourn the meeting was entertained at 6:42 PM.  Approved 4-0.

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2021, 5:30 PM

The Brookfield Public Safety Advisory Committee met in person as warned.

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

The following members attended: Dan Mason, Michael Rutkovsky, Stuart Edson and Lew Stowell.  The following members of the public attended: Megan Clouatre, Alex Clouatre (age 5), Skip Smith and Greg Wight.

5:30 PM: Called to Order. There were no additions or deletions to the agenda.

Review, revise or approve the July 14, 2021 meeting minutes. Approved 5-0.

Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public- An email from Nancy McCall with two attachments was received on 8/25/2021 and shared with the committee members prior to the meeting because Nancy could not attend.  It concerned pedestrian safety in Pond Village, particularly between the Floating Bridge and the Post Office.  Skip Smith spoke about his difficulties in trying to erect a temporary barrier to protect pedestrians on VT Route 65.  He stated that the barriers had been thrown over the steep bank across the road by two persons and that he had a threatening confrontation with them.  He has reported that incident to the Vermont State Police.  He stated that the 30 MPH speed limit was too fast.  He has contacted two officials from the Vermont Agency of Transportation who said there was nothing that could be done.  He provided a copy of his notes to L. Stowell.  Skip is afraid that someone will be killed before proper steps are taken.  He suggested that the branches on the tree in front of the John’s house could be trimmed to give drivers greater sight distance.  Greg Wight who walks from his house to the Post Office regularly suggested that Brookfield might apply for an AARP grant to have a painted side walk, lower the speed limit to 25 MPH and erect pedestrian signs.  Megan Clouatre said there was no safe place for her children to ride their bicycles or walk to the Floating Bridge.  She said that although a lot of residents and visitors walked on the road, it was not safe.  She suggested that the pavement be extended to at least the floating Bridge, movable speed bumps be installed, the speed limit lowered below 25 MPH and a side walk or walking path be built.  She said the State of Vermont should do more to protect pedestrians.  The PSAC agreed to look into various solutions.  L. Stowell to send a link to S. Edson for the current MUTCD.

Review and Discussion of OCSD Activities including Patrol Hours, Reports and Bills. The June and July bills were reviewed.  11.25 hours of patrols were performed in June and 25.5 hours in July.

Speed Cart Deployments- There have been three Speed Cart deployments affecting Brookfield Roads since the July PSAC meeting.  Two of them were at the Old Town Hall.  Northbound traffic in July had 7.3% speeding while Southbound traffic in August had 36.42% speeding.  The deployment just North of the Town line on Stone Road in late July and early August had 41.47% speeding.

Stone Road Parking Issues- There has been a big improvement observed.

Communication with the Select Board- The committee requests that a member of the Select Board be designated to be a liaison to the Public Safety Advisory Committee to facilitate two-way communication between the Committee and the Select Board.

Traffic and Weight Limit Sign Status- No change reported.

Traffic Ordinance Status- No change reported.

Parking in Pond Village- Observed to be generally adequate with some violations.

September Public Safety Message- M. Rutkovsky to prepare a draft on preparation for Winter weather.

Setting the Next Meeting-September 22, 2021 at 5:30 at the Congregational Church, Covid 19 permitting.

Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting-Todd Eaton of the Local Road Program, VT Agency of Transportation.

A motion to adjourn the meeting was approved at 6:53 PM, 5-0.

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2021, 5:30 PM

The Brookfield Public Safety Advisory Committee met in person as warned.

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

The following members attended: Michael Rutkovsky, Stuart Edson and Lew Stowell.  No members of the public attended.

5:30 PM: Call to Order- There were no additions or deletions to the agenda.

• Review and approve the June 23, 2021 meeting minutes: Approved 3-0.
• Review and Discussion of OCSD Activities including Patrol Hours, Reports and Bills.  No bill and report received yet.
• Speed Cart Deployments- The Pond Village deployment appeared to reduce speeding.  8:00 AM appears to be the busiest traffic time.  There were 4551 vehicles passing through Pond Village southbound from 8:00 AM June 24 to 12:00 PM (Noon) July 1, 2021.  Only 332 were above the speed limit of 25 MPH.
• Stone Road Parking Issues: Sheriff Bohnyak has informed Sid Cushing that the damaged truck in the traveled portion of Stone Road at 2141 Stone Road must be removed from the road.  Failure to do so will result in towing at owner’s expense.
• Brookfield Town Road Work Plan: Tim Higgins not able to attend.
• Traffic and Weight Limit Sign Status: Progress being made.  More signs to be ordered in July.
• Traffic Ordinance Status: The committee discussed the draft addendum containing selected entries from the Judicial Bureau Wavier Penalties.  Town Attorney Monte recommended attaching entire document.  L. Stowell to send committee members the draft ordinance, the draft addendum and the Judicial Bureau Wavier Penalties for assistance in ensuring that all relevant entries are included.  This will be a much smaller document and more relevant to the Traffic Ordinance.
• Parking in Pond Village: Most days the parking is under control.  OCSD is continuing to monitor.
• August Public Safety Message: S. Edson to prepare a draft and send to L. Stowell.
• Setting the Next Meeting: August 25, 2021 at the Brookfield Congregational Church at 5:30 PM.
• Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting: Tim Higgins and the Road Commissioner and new members of the Select Board.
• Entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting. M. Rutkovsky made the motion, seconded by S. Edson, approved 3-0.  Adjourned at 6: 23, 2021.