BROOKFIELD PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
AUGUST 4, 2016 6:00 PM
AGENDA NOTES
1. REVIEW AND APPROVE NOTES OF JUNE MEETING. Meeting opened at 6:00 PM and notes of previous meeting approved. Members of the PSAC present were Stuart Edson, Joy Kacik, Kevin Joyal, Mike Stoddard and Lew Stowell. There were four guests at the meeting: Sheriff Bill Bohnyak who was invited to discuss OCSD operations and three Brookfield residents: Jessica Kelley, Beth Godin, and Dennis LaRocque.
2. OCSD REPORTS AND BILLS- DISCUSSION WITH SHERIF BOHNYAK:
A. JUNE REPORT Sheriff Bohnyak provided a print out with May and June citations and warnings as requested. This print out had the names and license numbers deleted to avoid confidentiality issues. The committee agreed that they did not need or want them.
B. JUNE DATA: Sheriff Bohnyak agreed to include the hours spent in Brookfield using grant funds.
C. REPORT CONSISTENCY: OCSD has a new admin person and they will be more consistent in their reporting.
D. OCSD 2017 PATROL PLAN: Sheriff Bohnyak explained why the schedule could not be cast in stone but that he would try meet it.
3. BROOKFIELD PARKING PROBLEM DISCUSSION: The three Brookfield residents explained their concerns with the parking situation in Pond Village. They were concerned that emergency vehicles might have difficulty in proceeding in an emergency through the main street (Stone Road) to the incident. They were also concerned with there being motor accidents caused by the parking on both sides of the street. The fact that there was a “No Parking” sign on the West side of the street was mentioned. There was also discussion of parking issues further North on Stone Road. Sheriff Bohnyak pointed out that his officers were empowered by Vermont law Title 23 section 1005 to enforce municipal signs and parking in the right of way. In that event they could issue warnings or citations or even have vehicles towed depending upon the severity of the situation. He also pointed out that although a parking violation would not assess points against the driver’s license it would cost $220.00. There was further discussion and the committee directed Lew Stowell to send an email to the Brookfield Select Board requesting that the board send a letter to the owners of Ariel’s Restaurant (Richard Fink and Lee Duberman) warning them that the sheriff may start ticketing cars if a safety issue is perceived, and requesting them to start maintaining the two parking spaces from the prior agreement.
4. AMENDING THE TOWN TRAFFIC ORDINANCE PROGRESS: No additional progress.
5. DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS TO SELECT BOARD: No additional progress.
6. OTHER BUSINESS: No new business presented.
7. SETTING THE NEXT MEETING: 21st of September, 2016 at 6:00 PM
8. INVITING GUESTS TO THE NEXT MEETING: Game Warden Keith Gallant will be invited.
9. ADJOURN: The meeting was adjourned around 7:30 PM