Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to the January 15th traffic commission. Would everyone please stand for the pledge of allegiance? I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Okay, we'll start off with a quick roll call. Nicholas Rystrom is absent.
Chief Cullen is also absent. Chief Levita >> here. and Tom Skorski >> here. >> Thank you. We do have a quorum three, but keep in mind that all three of us have to vote yes for anything to pass.
[snorts] All right, let's start off with the public hearing items. Number one, we have amend schedule 24 section 1099240 parking restrictions for snow plow, I'm sorry, snow removal by adding Brad
Street Avenue, Southerntherly from Atlantic A to Endicott A. Are there any proponents or opponents for this item? Councelor, good evening uh council uh members of
the board. Um James Mccuria 193 Cresen Aav one city councelor uh I've plowed this street for about uh 30 years 35 years and uh I'm glad to see that they're finally uh removing the traffic on one side. I think it's important uh
as you know the equipment that is out there now everything seems a little bit bigger and you need some big equipment up in that area. So uh um I'll follow this amendment. >> Agreed. Thank you very much counselor. There any other proponents or opponents for this? No. Seeing and hearing none.
All right. Um, this was in coordination with the River Police, the traffic, I'm sorry, the parking department in the DPW. We thought this would be a beneficial um change to the
um schedule to help with plowing in this beach area. It is definitely needed. So, I am definitely one that is in favor of this. I would entertain a motion to approve. >> So, moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second.
>> Thank you. All right. So, quick roll call. Um, I'm just going to not call the two absentees. So, Chief Levita, >> yes. >> U, Tom Skowski, >> yes. >> And the chair says yes. So, that item
will be approved. On to the next one. Um item number two. Same schedule amendment for um snow removal and it is rest parking restricted for snow removal by adding Winthre A direction southerntherly which
is the odd side from Broadway to Beach Street. Again this was the same scenario that we ran into. There is currently no parking, but it actually switches from that one section on Winter Bath um from
Broadway to Beach. Again, for some reason, it was just left out. We would like to add this in in coordination with police and the parking department. Are there any proponents or opponents for this matter? [snorts] >> Uh thank you once again. Uh James Mccur, 193 Crescent Aav, Ward One, City
Councelor. Uh yes, I'm in favor of this amendment. I think it's important. Uh it's a main throwway uh from Broad Broadway to uh Beachmont. So uh I'm all in favor of this amendment. >> Awesome. Thank you very much. Any other proponents or opponents of
this one? Seeing hearing none, commission, >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Thank you. Is there a second, Tom? Thank you. >> All right. So quick roll call. Chief Levita. Yes. >> Tom Skorski. >> Yes.
>> And the chair again. Yes. Thank you. Item number two is approved. >> Okay. Uh the last item for public hearing is number three. It's a from um an item from the traffic working
group um presenting findings on the speed data and traffic caling measures for the following by adding temporary speed bumps to Rice Avenue between Lancaster and Rice. Oh, and 136 Lantern Road.
Is there any proponents or Thank you. Good evening everybody. Julie DeMar, Department of Planning and Community Development. Um so this was something that was brought to a public hearing last at the last meeting in November um
to put a removable uh speed pump or bump pillow at uh Riceav and Baitman um [clears throat] between Rice and Lancaster A. So, uh I think we
this is going to be removable. We're going to test it out. We're going to see how it goes and then uh figure out the permanent location for it. Um and then the last one was Linton Road. Do you want to talk about that now or do you want to wait? >> Uh you we can vote on them together.
>> Okay. So, Lantern Road is also another uh portable speed hump. That's something we're going to try out in or around the area of 136 Lantern Road. And so this is just to test it. It'll be about a three-month pilot. Um and then we'll
decide whether or not if the placement is right. And then if it is, we'll be able to put it down permanently. >> Awesome. Thank you. And these are both to be installed in the spring. >> That's correct. In spring. >> Thank you, Julie. Appreciate it. Are there any proponents or opponents
for this these two speed bumps? Counselor >> Angela Garino Soy Wood Five Counselor. Um, thank you so much for getting this done. I I really appreciate all the work you guys put into this. Thank you, Chief. Um, I I we doing one or are we
doing two on Rice Avenue? >> I believe we're looking at two specific locations on Rice. I'm just the areas are a little up in the air. We'll we'll find out. >> I would like to have one >> um at the Lancaster, but also the other
one needs to be um right after the Whitten AB one, the Whitten A beach entrance if possible. So the speeding that we found out was one has to be placed in um the baitment
before baitment because I believe that was the high speeding area >> when they come around the bend. >> Yes. So that is definitely one location but we can discuss this further >> and then okay between um Lancaster and Whitten would be great. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you counselor.
[snorts] >> All right. So we have the council's approval. Is there any other proponents or opponents for this item? Seeing hearing none, commission. >> So, a motion to approve the temporary speed bumps as outlined in Julie's
presentation. >> Thank you very much. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Quick roll call. Chief Levita, >> yes. >> Tom Sorski, >> yes. >> And the chair says yes again. So, approved.
>> [snorts] >> That wraps up our public hearing items. Now we will move on to the agenda. Um item number one in the agenda is to amend schedule 11 of title 10 handicap persons parking by adding 27 Avon Street.
I was able to review this application. It did look complete. They did not have a driveway and it does appear that this calls for a handicap parking spot. Um, I don't know if there's any proponents or opponents to this item,
councelor. >> I'm in favor of this. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Any other proponents or opponents? Seeing hearing none commission motion to approve. >> Thank you. Is there a second?
>> Second. >> Thank you. Um, quick roll call. Chief Levita. Yes. Is that being moved to a public hearing or? >> Yeah, this will be moving to a public hearing. I apologize. >> Yep. Yes. >> Um and Tom Skarski.
>> Yes. >> Awesome. Item number one on the agenda, we move to public hearing. >> Okay. Okay. Item number two, amend schedule 11 of title 10 handicap persons parking by adding 31 Bay Road. Um, I did have the time to go through
this application and it appears there are a couple missing documents from the medical documentation as long as well as the the placard itself that um represents the actual applicant has a
handicap placard was all the information was covered. So it was you're unable to tell if the person actually had the um placard necessary for this. So for those reasons, I would suggest tableing it. Although I would like to leave the floor
open for any public comment. Any proponents, opponents? Seeing hearing none? >> Motion to table. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Item number two will be tabled. Item number three, amend schedule 11 of
title 10 handicap persons parking by adding 11 wave avenue. Um, I did go through the application. It appears that there's no parking in the area for this particular resident. I was kind of undecided to be quite
honest about the needs for this one, but um I see no harm in pushing this forward to a public hearing. Are there any proponents or opponents for this one? Seeing hearing none. >> Motion moved to a public hearing.
>> Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. So item number three will be moved to a public hearing. I apologize. I should probably do a roll call. Chief Levita.
>> Yes. >> Tom Skorski. >> Yes. And the chair? Yes. >> Would you like to do a roll call for the first one as well? The one that we tabled? >> Um the table one I think is okay. All right.
Okay. Item number four, amend schedule 11 of title 10 handicapped persons parking by adding 53 Pac. Um, after review of this application, it appears that the applicant is not the
primary drive the primary driver, which would not be an issue, but there's also multiple driveways for this specific home. With that in mind and seeing no um paperwork stating that the applicant cannot use the um driveways on either
side of those residents, um I would suggest um denying this one. But is there any public comment for this particular application? Seeing hearing none
to deny. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. And um quick roll call. Chief Levita. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Tom Skowski. >> Yes.
>> And the chair. Yes. Item number four will be denied. Again, if they would like to um provide any more paperwork stating that there's no a reason why they cannot use these driveways, we can reconsider this one again. But for the time being, I think
that's a proper call. Um, let's go with item number five. Amend schedule 11 of title 10 handicap persons parking by adding 59 Koolage Street. I did review this application. It
definitely and they also provided a letter from the housing authority um approving the installation of the sign. I after review of the application I would definitely suggest moving forward with this one. [snorts] >> Motion is head to a public hearing.
>> Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Um quick roll call. Chief Levita. >> Yes. >> Tom Skowski. >> Yes. >> And the chair? Yes. Item number five
will be moved to a public hearing. Thank you. All right. Item number six, amend schedule 22, section 1022, I'm sorry, 220, no parking any times by
adding Everard Avenue, Easterly direction, Easterly from Cottage Street to Bell Isle Avenue, no parking. Thank you, Julie. >> Hi again, Julie Dear, Department of Planning and Community Development. Um
so this is a request for public hearing for the February meeting. Um this is part of the safe roots to school program project uh which the state is going to be funding about 1.4 to $1.5 million worth
of improvements around the Beachmont School Cottage Street and also Cummings Park the Cummings Park area. The request tonight is to eliminate parking on Everad a between the driveway
um the second driveway of the school and Bell A. And the reason for that is is because they're going to be extending the sidewalks out. Um so right now the sidewalk is 4 feet and they're going to add an additional six and make that 10
feet with the sidewalk. Um, so there will not be enough room on the street to accommodate parking because of the width of the street, but the I did check with the parking department that is not residential parking right now. It's a
15minute drop off zone during school time. Um, so we're just asking for a public hearing so that we can eliminate uh any parking there at any time because there won't be enough room uh during definitely during school hours. And
there's additional parking in the back of the school for people that want to use the park. >> Okay. Thank you, Julie. >> Is there any proponents opponents for this removal of parking? No.
Counselor, something to add? >> Uh James McCary 193 Crescent Awood one city councelor. Uh, I'm going to reserve my comments for the public hearing because I need to do a little bit more research on this and uh uh kind of get in touch with the neighbors and uh look at Julie's plan, what needs to get done down there.
>> Okay, completely understand. >> With that said, and no other public comment, I guess we should entertain a motion to approve. That would be my recommendation. Commission >> motion to send to a public hearing. >> Thank you. Sorry. Is there a second? >> Second.
>> Thank you. >> Roll call. Chief Levita. >> Yes. >> Tom Skowski. >> Yes. >> And chair. Yes. Item number six. We move to a public hearing. Thank you very much everyone. The last
item on our agenda is Commonwealth Electric Technologies. would like to speak regarding the three on street EV charging installation projects they are planning with the city of river. The streets listed are Makoba Street, Hutchinson Street, and Proctor Avenue.
>> Hello again and uh good evening. My name is Steve Ki with Commonwealth Electrical Technologies out in Worcester. Um, as I spoke about uh during the last hearing in uh November, uh we are working with the city uh with Tom and some other members of the uh sustainability and
planning groups um to put in a number of electric vehicle charging stations on on street parking locations around the city. This is a grant that the city of Rivier has been awarded uh through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Cent's on street charging solutions program. Um we
spent the better part of last year going through uh community engagement um activities and developing the uh the project designs for the three sites that were mentioned. Um and I'm just here again to um [clears throat] seek approval from the commission on the uh
the three projects and answer any questions that you all might have and I'm happy to kind of dive into some of the details if that's being asked. >> Thank you Mr. Ganti. Um, so yes, we did see the packet previously
for these three locations. I'm just of course coming from the DBW background, I'm just concerned about maintenance with these um charging stations. My main question would be if a vehicle does strike one of these charging
stations, is it just exposed live electrical or is there some safety that trips out? How does that work? There would be a you know a panel nearby within line of sight of the chargers that would have a disconnect switch on the exterior if that's needed for a first responder to uh to shut off the stations.
>> Okay. >> Um you know panel with the circuit breakers would be on the inside for the individual stations as well. >> Okay. And the other question I had was I know there are other communities that actually have these types of charging stations that um come down from above.
>> Would that be an option? So there's nothing that can be hit by a vehicle. >> It's an option. Um we haven't had much uptake in that charging solution in this program just due to some of the restrictions by the utility companies.
Um they don't allow at this point without extensive permitting and approvals um third party attachments outside of you know Comcast or Verizon on their polls essentially. Um so you know just with the short timeline on this grant you know everything has to be
installed this year it really doesn't it wouldn't make sense to go through that lengthy process with um you know national grid in this case. >> Okay so you see you tring the bit. Was there something you'd like to add? >> Oh no I'm good. I I had looked into that
as well as part of our early due diligence. I it this could be a good model uh if it's successful and we we see um you know we have this opportunity with grants right now that is probably going to go away but the utility mounted
models could be maybe a longer term solution if we find some success here it was just the permitting complications as you know working with national grid can be complicated at times so um we weren't able to do it through the confines of this program >> okay well I'm not completely against it.
I I just like to add that some portion of these charging stations, the the money that comes in for them is set aside for maintenance because I I don't want to have a shortfall when it comes to replacing these items or whatever may
happen with these on street charging locations. Um >> I have a few questions. >> Yes, please. Um the onus being on first responders to shut off uh any exposed
um wires or electricity is is there any option for ballusters or some kind of barrier to be you know okay >> yeah for all of these installations we're doing across the state we're putting in extensive ballards you know concrete embedded ballards in front of
the stations. Yeah, I'd be curious to see what what that looked like and and get uh Chief Cullen's input on >> Yeah, I definitely think we should let Chief Cullen um have an input here, but is the um community development asking
to move this to a public hearing? Is that the request? >> I'm unclear if if this would be something within Title 10 or if it's more an advisory notice at this point. So, >> I think you're right. Maybe it's semantics, but if you do feel we need to
wait until um Chief Collins's here to to opine, I will defer to the will of the group here. >> I I'm wondering too if the if the restrictions on the parking is what makes it fall under so what will the restrictions be for? Is it only EV
vehicles? And I think we touched on this the last time and um who who would be who and how would that be enforced? So the requirement for this program is a minimum 12 hours a day, seven days a week for EV only. It's really up to, you
know, the parking authority in River how they want to uh enforce that. >> So that could be an overnight. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> That's how a lot of municipalities are doing it, you know. >> So that might be it. Yeah. [clears throat] Get get approval to because it's a restriction. Yeah.
>> That will have to be enforced by parking control. >> Okay. I'm not against moving it to public hearing. We just have to figure out exactly how this fits into the schedule. >> Would you guys like to >> I guess if it is 12 hours, I would propose that we move to a public hearing
um with language to the effect of no parking from the hours of 700 p.m. to 7 a.m. >> Yeah, I guess that would work. and we can always adjust at the margins depending on feedback we hear from the community.
>> Okay, I can get on board with that one even though I am hesitant. Um, with that said, let's put a Is there a motion to add, let's go with agenda item seven?
Move to a public hearing for the EV on street charging locations for Makoba Street, Hutchinson Street, Proctor A. I believe the schedule we actually have to work out the where it fits into the schedule, but it will be the restriction
will be 7 pm to 7 a.m. electric vehicle um parking only. Does that sound right? >> I'll make a motion to move to a public hearing. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All right. And the chair? Yes. So, item
number seven will move forward to a public hearing. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [sighs] >> What's that? >> Yeah. Um I I don't exactly know how it'll fit into the schedule. We'll have to talk with parking and figure it out.
All right. Um we should do a quick roll call for that. I apologize. Um Chief Levita, >> yes. >> Tom Sorski, >> yes. >> And the chair, yes. That wraps up our agenda for tonight.
Um, thank you everyone. Have a good night.