7.16.2025 Traffic Board

Pursuant Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unperceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.

Start with attendance.

Um, you can start with attendance.

Start with attendance. Stephanie MacArthur, director of traffic and parking, Natalie Melo, Helen Rego, John Point, Officer John Aguar, the All right, we're going to start with the approval of minutes from June 18th, 2025 meeting to approve.

Second. All right.

Next is citizen input.

Okay. So, um I'm just going to chime in here. Um so, essentially we have received a revised um agenda for today's meeting um in regards to Pine Street. Um it was brought to my attention if there is any residents here that want to discuss um the traffic pattern change on Pine Street. I am recommending it be discussed during citizen input. Um it was brought to my attention after the

fact that it was placed on the traffic board agenda. um that due to this item being tabled in the ordinance committee, this committee cannot make a motion um or a discussion in regards to it. So I am recommending if there is anybody here for Pine Street to have that discussion during citizen input.

Is there anybody here for Pine Street that would like to if you want if anybody has any questions for me? I I don't know.

Name address.

Yeah. done this a few times. So, if anybody has any questions for me, I don't know.

Uh, just your name and your address, please.

Sure. Uh, Ken Lec. I'm the executive director of the um Veterans Association of Bristol County located on Pine Street.

Okay.

And we just we just wanted to make Pine Street a oneway uh from Robson to Seabberry. That was the initial ask.

So, the request is still remaining the same. Same concerns.

Correct. Same concerns, same issues.

Yeah. Uh safety issues and and um that's that's number one.

Okay.

Yeah. So, what I'm going to do is I'm going to just take notes of anything that is discussed during citizen input, which we've already had that discussion, and bring that to the ordinance committee when and if it is on the agenda again for ordinance.

Okay. Okay. All right. Thank you. Yeah.

Appreciate it. Thanks.

Anyone else for citizens input?

Um motion.

All right. Next item is curb cuts. Uh applicant and owners of 363 Miller Street.

So uh the engineer department reviewed the application as well as the location and found no issues. There are no objections to the request for a curb cut per city engineer.

Motion to accept.

Approve.

Second.

Thank you.

All right.

All set. So that still has to continue to go to um city council, but you'll be contacted by them. Okay.

All set. Have a great night.

All right. That's that's the big one.

That's the P Street.

Okay. Miscellaneous tabled request uh request for the residents to revert the one-way traffic on Niagara Street due to the number of vehicles driving in wrong direction. This was tabled by traffic board on June 18th, 2025 in order to contact all abuing residents.

Anybody here to anybody here in regards to it?

Anybody want to come?

Any anybody want to come up or talk?

You can come up together. There's a few seats.

Yeah. My name is William Wright. I'm at 103 Niagara.

I'd like it reverted back the way it was only because yeah, it worked out in the beginning, but people don't look at that big sign that says, "Hey, this is a rest of it's a one way."

And when they get to the end of the street, they go the the wrong way on that one way. So, if you're coming in that way, you can't go anywhere.

And that's Foster Street, right?

Foster Street. Yeah. It's tied over there, sir.

My name is Brock O 41 Forester Street.

Body time. I'm backing out of my driveway and they come the wrong way on Niger Street and they almost nail me and they look at me as a minute.

Okay.

Other times I'm coming from Austin Street to Niagara Street and I almost get into a headache collision.

So you're you want it reverted back.

Okay.

Anybody else?

If you guys want to talk for me, I'm sure you can.

You want to go first?

Sure.

Name and address.

Hello, my name is Riley Ferrer. I live in 99 Niagara Street.

Okay.

And for the purpose of this answer, may I ask the entire room a question too to to answer that? May I ask a question to answer that answer? If that makes sense.

Are you're requesting through the board um the board members here. Is that you want to ask us the question?

The the people in the seats.

Okay.

Sure thing. How many people here in this room have had trouble driving within the city? Raise your hand.

We can all agree to that. It is exa for it is exactly that reason why we should have a one why we should have a oneway down that street to begin with because you have heard the last um um I'm sorry what are your names again?

Bob and Bill excuse me. Bill, Bob and you have just heard Bob and Bill's stories about how they almost had a collision with within within driving and you're going to hear more stories about how people have almost had a collision within driving.

So having a one-way street is a much better idea. that driving down by Niagara Street is a much is a much better idea because I guarantee you're because I guarantee people are not going to be careful when it comes to two-way streets.

Thank you.

I have I have a wonder I have another I live on I live at 930 Plymouth which is the corner of Niagara and Plymouth. Now my view is totally opposite. For 44 I've been there 46 years. I've been married 46. And for 44 years I always went Plymouth Avenue, east on on Warren, north on Foster, south on Niagara to go home. So of course now at the lights I take a left

and I'm home. So obviously it's been the past two years very absolutely very convenient for me. So I absolutely loved it. No one ever told me they were going to change it when Cliff Pot built the building next door which was the KW.

And the reason why they wanted it that way is because the KW which is now Remax, their parking lot is behind right there. Now all the people that go to ReMAC, all their clientele I feel bad for because now they're going to do the same route. They're going to go down east on Warren, south, north on Foster, up for Niagara to Gord Park.

And I feel bad because Cliff Pot was able to do it. The counselor was able to do it for Remax. I'm sorry, for KW. Now I feel bad because as far as I'm concerned I did it for 40 40 44 years and I'll do it again. I don't mind. I'll go do around to go home. But for them I feel so bad because their clientele are going to have to go around. Now I do

live on Plymouth Avenue and I see 50 cars a day go to that parking lot, turn around and go back as soon as they see the sign. Occasionally I see a car that goes all the way down, but there could be one thing we could do. There is no sign there that says no through traffic at that at that Plymouth Avenue on on Niagara Street. It does not say no through traffic. It doesn't say that. So

when they get there, half of the people notice that sign and turn around cuz I see them. I'm in the in my backyard and I can see them turn around at that they ReMax uh building parking lot and they turn around and go back to Plymouth Avenue. I see that a hundred times a day. So there is an occasional that goes all the way down because Diagara Street

is very quiet street. So I see a lot of people go down which is totally wrong and I think it's very very unsafe because there's so many little children on that street and I don't want anyone to get hurt and it's not the best idea and I never asked for them to do this.

Do I like the idea? Yes, because it's very convenient for me because now I don't have to go all the way around that whole, you know, scenario, especially trying to get off of Plymouth Avenue to go to Warren on on on the uh the the fire station is not a piece of cake, right?

But when I come on my lights, Plymouth Avenue lights, either way, and I just turn onto Niagara and I'm home, it's wonderful for me. So after 44 years now 46 that I've been there the last two years. It's been wonderful for me because in two seconds I'm home and safer because I'm at the lights safer to go Don Warren for me.

So for me it's good. But I am thinking right now and I'll go around again. I'm not this is not what I'm here. I'm just thinking how Mr. Cliff Pont or Councelor Cliff Pont was able to do it for KW and now they want to take that away and I feel bad because the clientele already have trouble trying to find the parking lot because they'll they'll park in the front of the Plymouth Avenue when

there's no parking space and I tell them, "Oh, the parking lot's over here."

Now they're going to have to go down Morin Foster Niagara to get to the Plymouth Avenue parking lot.

So this is a request from a resident. So that this isn't Yeah. This isn't just the city taking it up by themselves.

I'm exactly telling you what I what I see happening. Would I like it to go back on one way? Much safer.

I agree with every single one here. Much safer because we don't see this people running all the way down.

I understand that. For me, I like it the way it is. And for the business next door, Remax is starting over there. I feel, you know, that they should because when when the funeral home was there, Niagara funeral home or Shilles funeral home, they had the driveway on open on Warren Street, so they would be able to cut through and be in their parking lot.

So, why don't they open?

I don't know. I mean, that's an option.

I mean, I don't work for them. I don't know.

What? One second. if if we could.

There's a gentleman who seems extremely passionate and I'm assuming he's probably Remax affiliated or something.

I don't know. He keeps raising his hand.

He requested it.

I am not affiliated with Remax. Matthew Tex one Foster the corner of Foster and Warren. I'm the one who initiated this motion.

Um I was here for the last meeting where we first talked about it. Uh since then I've seen it happen four times where some coming from Niagara turning right on Foster and heading to Warren. And it happened yesterday. This person yesterday slammed on their brakes right before war because they realized what they're about to do. And I understand the convenience factor, but someone's

going to get hurt if this isn't change back.

Yeah. You know, I appreciate you calling us in because I don't remember ever being questioned as to the street directional change. So correct my question is what is the history of the street changed?

Correct.

Why was the street changed? Why was the direction of the streets?

So again, anything that comes anything that is approved through ordinance and through um city council has to go through this board when it comes to traffic and parking has to come through this board first. So it was brought to the board and it was sent over to ordinance and council for approval. So, it isn't just this board that makes the decision. So, if it is approved tonight to make the traffic change, there is

still two other basically steps that it has to go through. It still has to go through the ordinance committee and then to city council. Um, so when that change was made, it did go through all three committees. So, it did go through the traffic board, it went through uh the ordinance committee, and then full counsel prior to the change. Um why abutters weren't contacted that I can't

answer. Um I've been in this position about a year and a half now. Um that I can't answer as to why the abutters were not contacted. But for something like that like you know even for the Pine Street all abutters are contacted and they should be contacted for a change in a traffic pattern and I like right on the corner I was never notified. I was always I saw people changing the street

and as I at the time was Mr. Andre was still alive. I asked what's going on and he says we had we the street is changing and that's how I found out and a few of these committee members on this committee were actually on the board when the change was made. So it it did initiate and start here. Um but the process did go through as it should have.

I think if you pull the residents here none of them will tell if any of them tell you they were contacted. I would be surprised because my own poll, none of us were contacted for the change that happened, but I think that's the change that we're trying for that.

That's the change we're trying to put back here right now is to that did our due diligence to contact you and I'm glad residents did not have any input in that change.

But I also want to say it's such a counterintuitive directional change. No one expects cars coming off the avenue to come onto Niagara Street. Even this morning, a car that turned around that came on turned around. Instead of going in back of me, that car pulled up on the side of me and I thought he could get hit. It could be a head-on collision. He doesn't even realize it. It's so odd. The other thing

is there's been two hit and runs. one the neighbor across the street and one I don't know what car was there was a car involved but I don't know what happened there that I know of. The other is that um once a driver realizes it is a oneway up. Once they realize they've gone past it, they start to proceed down. the speed accelerates. And that's the danger because in the three houses that above

me, there are 13 children. They play soccer in their yard. They play, they ride bikes. A car going down that street at a high speed is a recipe for an accident, for a child getting hurt. Not only children, but elderly and disabled.

And to talk about the convenience of a business, we're also inconvenience. We all have to go around and go up. I would rather be inconvenience for the safety of all the residents, children disabled second language learners. I've been at the top of Niagara Street.

I've seen people walk. They see me stopped. They don't look at the light.

They think it's clear. another car comes off the avenue. It's just totally counterintuitive for a driver, for a pedestrian. There's a bus stop right in front of your house.

Kids are working in the morning. It's not a good place to do that kind of change of direction.

Okay. I live on a corner of Foster and Niagara Street.

Yes.

Now, years ago, that was two-way.

I've been living there 80 years in that same house. 80. It was two ways.

No, way back.

Right. Then they made it one way. Right.

When Cliff bought that business that was opening on Warren Street, so he blocked it. Is for his convenience, not the neighbors convenience. It was for his convenience. So let them reopen it again for the new people that are coming in.

let them reopen it and they can come by Warren Street into there. They don't have to go all the way down to Forest Street.

And I don't think we're talking about convenience. We're talking about safety for drivers, pedestrians, children, and disabled.

Yeah. Thank you. Thank you for advocating for us, Ellen.

Any other any Does anybody have any other concerns they want to speak about with on this subject? Members members job?

Oh, no. I I agree.

Yeah.

Do we have a motion?

But you know what? Going back to the gate. I'm sorry cuz I I wrote him here.

So why isn't that gate? Did we ever I don't remember. Do we ever question why they have that gate closed on Warren?

He did it make so they can use the he like she does. She just turns up Niagara Street. She's home. They turn up Niagara Street. They're in the parking lot.

Right. Right.

But you know I don't think that's our concern.

Just reopen the gate on street and make everybody happy. Right.

Concern. Right. I strongly recommend that you make the street a oneway. We can prevent accidents, taxpayers dollars. Everybody wins.

We have a motion on the table.

Do we have a motion on the table to uh revert Niagara Street back to its original direction?

I make a motion that we rehear it one way.

She should abstain.

She should abstain. Um, I make a motion for whatever.

I make I make a motion to keep uh make it a oneway.

Second.

Second.

All right. Motion is accepted.

One way.

Yep.

Okay.

So, you can you could you actually could go towards when they open that gate.

Come up that g parking lot and pop.

No problem.

So, so as discussed, I'm never home.

So, this this will still have to go to the ordinance committee and full counsel. Um, all members will be contacted of what happened at this meeting that it was approved. Um, but I'm not sure if the city council clerks will reach out to you guys as far as the meeting of when it will be discussed for ordinance um, and council. Um, but it will be set forth at this point.

Stephanie, you're not sure if the residents of the street will be invited into those meetings that I I am not 100% sure of. You will again, you will receive a letter of the approval um, for tonight's meeting. Um, but the next step it does have to go to ordinance. Um, but you can feel free to contact my office at any time. I can give you that ordinance date and time

for that meeting as well. Um, if you do want to go and have a discussion at the ordinance committee as well.

If you see me, ask me. I'm I'm And he's always out in the yard. He's my tenant. He's always out in the yard.

Could I ask if a letter does go out that there are um several Spanishspeaking first language families and Portuguese speaking first language families who I think may have been here tonight with an interpreter might have been available or they could have called maybe the letter could be more direct if you need an interpreter. Okay.

Well, thank you accommodation.

All right. Thank you. I appreciate the recommendation.

Thank you. All right. Next. Um, for handicap spaces.

Request for handicap spaces. Request for resident at 14 Healey Street.

Do we wash it?

landlord.

You don't have a driveway.

Excuse me.

Do you have a driveway?

No, there's no driveway in the property.

Are you a tenant?

Yes, ma'am.

My statement it lists that uh the previous tenant had a space and when he left or died whatever happened they took the space away and that was several years before a couple years before I moved in any issue. So parking on that street motion to accept the handicap space for 14 Healey Street.

Motion to accept. Second.

Motion accepted.

Somebody will contact me.

Yep. So, you'll you'll be receiving a letter from us. It takes about 12 weeks.

You'll see maintenance go out there.

They're going to do some measurements.

Um same thing as I explained, has to go to ordinance and full counsel looking at about 12 weeks before the signs go up.

Um but we do tell all um applicants who do get approved. Um this handicap sign is not anybody with a active handicap park can park there. It's not technically designated just for you.

Okay, I understand.

Thank you so much.

Thank you. Great day.

All right. Um, request from resident of 95 Foot Street for handicap space.

I don't see any issues. Right.

I mean, you changed the form.

Yeah, they didn't tell us.

Good.

Can I say something?

Yeah, of course. Absolutely.

Yeah. My name is Linda Johnson and I live at 116 Foot Street and where he lives, he's in the middle of the block and he has a lot of VA appointments in the afternoon. So by the time he gets home, there's no spots there. So he has to go down Sway Street and walk and he's driveway.

Yeah, there's no driveway and he has problems with blood clots and that. So it's hard for him to have to walk.

over half issues.

Motion to accept uh handicap space for 95 street.

Motion to accept.

Second.

Second. Motion approved.

Accept.

Okay. So, it it has been approved. Um as I explained to the previous applicant, takes about 12 weeks before the signs actually go up. They will go out there, do the measurements. Um same thing, anybody with a handicap um placer can park there. Um, so if somebody is parked, they would an active handicap placard. Unfortunately, there's nothing anyone can do. Just so you're aware of that. Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right. Uh, request from resident of 575 William Street for handicap space.

Any residents for 575 William Street?

Motion to table.

Motion to table.

Okay.

Accepted.

All right. Request from resident of 205 um Barnaby Street for handicap space.

Yeah.

Oh, that's a right.

This is your This is your wife, sir.

Yes.

She doesn't drive.

No, she can't drive.

I think I got it on this right.

from the uh landlord.

You need a letter from the landlord.

I don't think this one has a You're just a tenant. You're not the landlord, sir. The property owner.

Just a tenant.

The landlord lived there half the year. She Yeah. No driveway. No driveway is in Florida.

Okay. No driveway.

No.

All right. So, the only issue that we're having is the applicant, and it's part of the guidelines, must have a driver's license.

She's not able to drive. We just turned in her license a couple of weeks ago.

And I I understand and apologize for that situation, but the guidelines to this is the applicant needs to have a driver's license and a vehicle registered with a registered vehicle.

So, I mean, as a caregiver, I understand it complicates the situation to have to drop your wife off and then go find a parking spot, but it's it's not it's not a question. She's not able to function on her own cuz I'm not dro I can't drop her off and go find a parking place. Many times I'm find a spot a block block and a half away and it's going to take her 10 to 15 minutes

to get to that spot to the house. I'm crossing Lincoln Avenue on at least one occasion with her her caregiver. They're crossing a street and this person coming up the street from North Main Street is a steep hill so they feel they have to get on it to get up the street and they're not paying attention. That nurse had to pull her back before she got hit. I'm just trying

to make this a little safer for her.

She's I have a handicap placard.

Yep.

She's She's not driving.

So, do you have a handicap placard or for her?

Oh, okay. All right. So she asked because she's the placard holder.

Unfortunately, those are guidelines.

That doesn't seem to make much sense. I can get a placard for her. I can park in any handicap spot with with her.

Absolutely.

But I can't get that in front of my house.

That doesn't make any sense.

Again, it's the guidelines set forth for this.

You're not the only one. That's the rules.

The rules have to be. So, how do you change the guidelines?

Well, that would have to be through the Commission of Disability.

That would have to be through the Commission of Disability.

If you're looking to change the guidelines, just had major heart surgery has equilibrium issues.

We're going to get to Yeah, that's a different applicant that we can't We're talking about this applicant.

Yes.

Okay. Is that it?

Yes.

Yes. So, a motion to deny the handicap parking spot for Barnaby Street.

Motion to deny.

Second. Seconded.

Rules.

Uh request from resident of 105 Park Street. Handicap parking space.

Right there.

Oh, okay. Yes. Sorry.

Did you have handicap sign in your other house? No, I had a driveway where I parked before and then I got a notice to quit to leave the premises. And then since then I've had 11 surgeries and more to go and it's just hard between appointments and everything else trying to get to the car, trying to you know and everything else and it's so congested there. There's nothing. And there's two of the tenants that they

said we went to disability and we didn't get it and they said do you see signs in front of the house for us? And I'm like I didn't say anything. I just went about my business and did what I had to do.

They do have parking there, but I don't have a spot. And the landlord did write a letter on it.

And you do drive, right?

Yeah, I have to drive my appointment else.

I couldn't hear you, ma'am.

I drive to my appointment. My doctor I have multiple doctor appointments and everything that I have to go to. So, and it's like when you come back like they said like especially, you know, later in the afternoon, there's like nothing, right?

Oh, that's property manageable.

All right. Motion to uh accept handicap spot. Motion to accept.

Second.

Motion approved.

Thank you very much.

So, same thing about 12 weeks.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

All right. Request from resident at 166 Hunter Street for handicap space.

My name is Caprice Miglori. I'm here on behalf of my grandfather, James McLeon.

I'm his caregiver. My grandfather's 85 years old. He's been diagnosed with vertigo equilibrium issues. He just had major heart surgery. It's very hard to leave him at the street to let him walk to the door by himself. He's very unsteady. He's very weak. So, it it poses an issue. Now, there are two handicap parking spots on my street, but they're at the bottom of the hill at the stop sign, and it's a very steep

incline. So, he would never make it up that hill on his own.

And he can't legally get a driver's license with his equilibrium issues, especially at 85 years old.

have a question that too.

the vehicle if the vehicle is registered to that address. Changed it.

Well, I was looking at that already.

I was curious about that. Um, you're where do you live?

I live with him.

You live with him. And you you have a updated address of that motor vehicle.

Um, I have it on my license. I just renewed my license June 2nd and I moved June 7th. cuz you're I know you wrote it on the back of his license, but how long is has he lived at Hunter Street?

We just moved there June 7th. We lived at Davis Street before, but we had off street parking, so it didn't pose an issue for us.

So, you've never brought James back to ever change his address on his license?

He doesn't have a license. He's ID. Well, his ID card. No, we just moved June 7th.

Well, I know, but you moved from Davis Street, but then he was living he has an identification card in North Main Street.

Oh, he was homeless until about a year ago. He when he started getting very ill, I took him in to live with me and we've just been um dealing with his health issues since. So, we haven't really had much time.

That's going to have to be a motion from the board.

The board has to make a motion.

Unfortunately, we have to do the same thing and we have to deny it because that's the rules.

It has to be a driver. So, you do for one and by the law we have to do for all.

Mhm.

We will fight back the bad guys, but we don't want to be the bad, but it's factual. It's, you know, it's a fact. And that's very nice what you do for your grand grandfather. You said grandfather.

God bless you for doing that. But you're going to understand we also have rules that we have to follow.

I do understand.

Thank you. So, what can I do to help change this?

Yeah.

Well, ask the boss.

I mean, you can certainly uh send a letter um to the Commission of Disability to see if that is something that they can consider changing with it being placed on a public way.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Motion to deny 166 Hunter Street.

Motion denied.

Second. All right. Motion denied.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Uh request from resident of 65 Kellogg Street for handicap space.

Thank you.

How long have you lived over there, sir?

I just moved there on June 23rd.

Oh, there we go. Okay.

I have a picture of this.

Pictures

extra.

She's okay.

Who's the driveway to the left or right belong to?

Um, we have a driveway at my residence, but I'm not allowed to use it. And I don't know the other people on the other side. I have no idea.

Yeah, I believe there's a letter there from the landlord stating that I'm not allowed to use the driveway.

No,

that's between

parking over there is real tough.

All right. Um mo uh the board motion to accept.

Motion to accept.

Second.

Seconded. Motion to accept.

All right. So all said it was approved about 12 weeks.

Okay. Thank you very much.

You're welcome.

Thank you for your time.

All right. Um, rescended uh, rescended handicap spots. Request from the track department, traffic department to have the following handicap spaces rescended due to individuals no longer utilizing the space because they have either moved, no longer drive, or have passed away.

I just read them out.

Bate Street, uh, Bate Street, September 1st, 2022, Barn Street, no, July 11th, 2017. Bay Street, February 5th, 2019.

East Main Street, December 9th, 2022.

Motion to have them rescended.

Motion to rescend.

Second motion.

Motion to motion to adjurnn.

Stop that. Excuse