Brookfield, Vermont

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2018 AT 5:30 PM

BROOKFIELD TOWN OFFICE

RALPH ROAD, BROOKFIELD, VT

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

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

1. Review and Approve Minutes of June 27,2018: Approved unanimously.
2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public: No members of the public attended.
3. Guest: Enforcement & Safety Division, VT DMV: No one was available to attend.
4. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills: June bill and report reviewed. Stowell to send an email requesting patrol logs each month, and request patrolling during at least a few of the Old Town Hall events.
5. Continuing Review of Parking Enforcement on Stone Road: Stowell to send a report on Committee efforts to research the problem to J. Benson, Select Board Chair. M. Rutkovsky to speak with an engineer at AOT.
6. Keeping in Touch with the Select Board and Highway Department: L. Stowell to discuss possible methods with J. Benson, Select Board Chair.
7. Increasing Parking in Pond Village: Edson to research Zoning Bylaws. L. Stowell to query Select Board on next steps.
8. Reflective E-911 House Number Signs Project: D. Mason presented Rule Sign sample. Niebling unable to attend. D. Mason to query Vermont Correctional Industries (VCI) whether their signs have holes. If so, to go with VCI signs.  S. Edson to create a spreadsheet with the names of residents who want signs to provide to T. Godfrey.  L. Stowell to send him one as well wit additional names.  The project needs to be completed soon.
9. Discussion of movable radar speed display signs: Unanimous agreement that having OCSD provide their “Speed Cart” from time to time at locations with up to date signs was a cost-effective way to encourage safe speeds. The Committee will continue to stay informed of current speed display sign technology. Stowell will provide a current list of requested sites for the “Speed Cart” to OCSD.
10. August Public Safety Message: The safety message to be combined with the E-911 House Number Sign request for other people wanting signs. E-911 House Number Sign request to be put on Front Porch Forum.
11. Setting the Next Meeting: August 22, 2018.
12. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting: D. Mason to invite someone from DMV Enforcement & Safety Division. If not confirmed by August 15, another guest may be invited.
13. Adjournment: 7:12 PM.

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY June 27, 2018 5:30 PM

BROOKFIELD TOWN OFFICE

RALPH ROAD, BROOKFIELD, VT

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

The following members attended: Stuart Edson, Mike Stoddard, Dan Mason, Joy Kacik, Michael Rutkovsky and Lew Stowell.  Dennis Larocque attended as a member of the public.

1. Review and Approve Minutes of May 23, 2018. Approved unanimously.
2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public. Dennis Larocque expressed his concern that the parking situation at 2141 Stone Road was unsafe and if not resolved soon could result in a serious accident either between vehicles and pedestrians or between vehicles.
3. Guest: To Be Determined. No guest from DMV was available.
4. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills. The increase of the OCSD hourly rate from $40.00 per hour to $46.00 per hour will result in a reduction of the patrol hours of 40.1 to a new total of 260.9 hours per year. The FY 2019 budget amount of $12,000 remains the same.  OCSD has been placing their Radar Speed Display (Speed Cart) in locations in Brookfield where speed limit signs have changed such as at the Elementary School and Stone Road in Pond Village.  When the new OCSD web site is completed there will be a way for the town to access more detailed records of OCSD patrols
5. Continuing Review of Parking Enforcement on Stone Road. The committee agrees that there must be a resolution to this situation to reduce the risk of accidents at 2141 Stone Road.  As requested by the Select Board the committee will research entities performing “Traffic Studies”, the legal authority for the Select Board to proceed and to determine the exact location of Stone Road in that locality.
6. Increasing Parking in Pond Village. Stuart Edson met with Ray Peck, Road Foreman, at the Town Office Parking Lot. Ray pointed out the town boundary which could provide approximately 40 additional feet of parking in a Northerly direction on Ralph Road. Ray estimated that if he did not hit substantial ledge, he could cut the trees and add fill in approximately 3 days.  There was one big tree that would be left or cut by Washington Electric Coop.  Because there is no acquisition of land, this could be done this year with Select Board approval.  The parking lot could be increased further by about 100′ in the future by purchase or lease of land from the MacBruces.  Additional signs at the floating bridge are being worked on by Dan Mason.
7. Reflective E-911 House Number Signs. Dan Mason will work with Theresa Godfrey, Town Clerk, to register with Vermont Correctional Industries, to determine the specific inclusive price and receive the first batch of orders.
8. Discussion of movable radar speed display signs. The committee will continue to look in to purchase of a radar speed display unit but in the meantime the OCSD Speed Cart is filling the need.  The location of the Speed Cart is limited to where valid speed limit signs are posted.
9. July Public Safety Message. Will be posted on the Town Website and Front Porch Forum.
10. Setting the Next Meeting. July 25, 2018 at 5:30 PM.
11. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting. Dan Mason will invite DMV again.
12. Adjournment. 7:12 PM.

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Wednesday May 23, 2018 5:30 PM

Brookfield Town Office

Ralph Road, Brookfield, VT

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

The following members attended: Stuart Edson, Mike Stoddard, Dan Mason, Joy Kacik, Michael Rutkovsky and Lew Stowell.  Deputy Kevin Wilson, OCSD attended as invited guest.

1. Review and Approve Minutes of April 25, 2018. Approved unanimously.
2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public. None attended.
3. Acknowledgment of Gwynn Zakov’s resignation. Noted and accepted.
4. Guest: Deputy Kevin Wilson, OCSD. Made no opening remarks but participated in the meeting.
5. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills. Deputy Wilson explained that OCSD is expecting a new Website from which Brookfield could obtain patrol logs. L Stowell requested that until that website is operational that those logs be provided either on paper or digitally.
6. OCSD Contract Recommendations: L Stowell will send modified recommendations to the Select Board.
7. Continuing Review of Parking Enforcement and Pond Village Traffic Signs on Stone Road. M Rutkovsky to check with WEC about Power line ROW. S Edson to check I-89 surveys.
8. Increasing Parking in Pond Village: Discussed the MacBruce property. L Stowell measured approximately 150′ by 75′ that might be useful. S Edson to go with R Peck to look at the property to see how much work it would take.  D Mason to talk with AOT District Engineer about parking signs at the floating bridge.
9. Reflective E-911 House Number Signs: D Mason reported that reflective E-911 house signs are 4″ by 14″ and cost $8.90 each. There are no volume discounts. Proposed and approved that the signs all be green. Signs may be have numbers horizontal or vertical at homeowner’s option. L Stowell will talk with T Godfrey and J Benson about the ordering process.
10. Discussion of movable radar speed display signs: Deputy Wilson offered to have the OCSD Speed Cart placed at Brookfield Elementary School for a few days and once the 25 MPH signs are in place to place it North of Pond Village on Stone Road for a few days. Other possible locations for the Speed Cart not to be used until and unless appropriate signs are in place.
11. June Public Safety Message: Original message to be used in July. New message to be written by L Stowell explaining new speed limits at Elementary School and Pond Village and also explaining details of the E-911 House Sign availability.  S Edson to post on Front Porch Forum.
12. Setting the Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at 5:30 PM at the Town Office.
13. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting: D Mason to talk with DMV Enforcement about a guest.
14. Adjournment: At 6:56 PM.

BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Wednesday April 25, 2018 5:30 PM

Brookfield Town Office

Ralph Road, Brookfield, VT

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

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

1. Review and Approve Minutes of March 28, 2018: Reviewed and approved unanimously.
2. Questions or Issues Brought by Members of the Public: None attended.
3. Acknowledgment of Kevin Joyal’s resignation and past service to the committee and the town: Accepted with understanding of his new job schedule and thanks for his service to the committee and town.
4. Continuing Review of OCSD Activities, Reports and Bills: No March report and bill was available. Existing OCSD contract provided to members. Zakov recommended that Select Board be more specific about expectations of OCSD next year.  There was a discussion of what the new contract might say. Committee to send suggestions on additions to new contract with OCSD to the Select Board.
5. Continuing Review of Parking Enforcement and Pond Village Traffic Signs on Stone Road: Edson advised that Deputy Kevin Wilson is researching the situation. There was discussion of what laws or regulations are being violated. G. Zakov to send applicable portions of VSA to members.  S. Edson to look at deeds and surveys along Stone Road and the AOT website.
6. Increasing Parking in Pond Village: S. Edson and L Stowell to visit the McBrides.
7. Discussion of movable radar speed display signs: Northfield P.D. interview presented by L. Stowell. L. Stowell to email Sheriff Bohnyak on OCSD experience with radar speed display signs and availability of OCSD using theirs in Brookfield.
8. Familiarity with Brookfield Ordinances and plans: Ordinances and plans provided to members.
9. May Public Safety Message: Approved with improvements after discussion. Residents to be offered reflective metal E911 House Number Signs at cost. Mason to research details.
10. Ridge Road Sign Project: Completed last week to include removal of time signs at the school.
11. Setting the Next Meeting: May 23, 2018 at 5:30 PM.
12. Inviting Guests to the Next Meeting: L. Stowell to invite OCSD Deputy Kevin Wilson to be a guest on May 23.
13. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM.