2012-10-01-WALKS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Sidewalk Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, October 1, 2012, 9 AM Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building Present: Judy Crocker, Bettina McGimsey, Francine Stieglitz, Jerry van Hook; Liaisons: Elaine Celi (Transportation), Hank Manz (BOS), Marc Valenti (DPW); Guests: JeanneCanale, Mary HosmerFanucci The meeting of the Sidewalk Committee (SWC) was called to order at 9:05 AM. 1. Review of the September 2012 minutes: The minutes were approved as amended. 2. Membership Recruitment: JeanneCanale has submitted her application to join the SWC. Mary HosmerFanucci attended the meeting and will put in her application to join. 3. Secretary Schedule: Bettina McGimsey will serve as Secretary, with backup from Jerry van Hook as needed. 4. Safe Routes to School: Judy Crocker reported that PTA representatives met in late September. Most of the representatives are new to the program. They discussed the work of the committee and what has been happening with the School Transportation and Safety Study Committee. On a state -wide note, the 500 school has been added to the program. A rally will be held for International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, 10/3. 5. Ad hoc School Transportation and Safety Study Committee: Ms. Crocker reported that the district is up from 33% bus ridership to 40 %, which matches 2002 levels. This equates to 415 new students, 5 new buses, and 11 new routes. All nine schools increased ridership, with a range of 26% at Fiske to 63% at Clarke. Overall, buses are at 82% capacity, 211 HS and MS students are using the flexpass, and 175 elementary students are using the after school activity bus. 370 families signed up after the registration period, mostly in August. We will work on an on -line registration process. Elaine Celi added that they might add one additional bus for Clarke. Jerry van Hook brought up the fact that,for the 2012 -2013 school year, the Town has subsidized the cost of the buses. What might be the effect of no subsidy? Mary Ellen Dunn is looking at the costs to determine how the school department might be able to sustain this. If we are able to keep the numbers of riders high, that will keep the costs down. The topic of discipline issues on the buses was raised. C &W has a system to try and document any discipline issues. People also report them to Ms. Celi. The company is also considering getting cameras to help document any issues. 6. Sidewalk projects: Marc Valenti noted that he had received a request for upgrades to the Taft Avenue sidewalks close to Mass Ave. He noted that the crosswalk at Taft and Mass Ave is being shifted to Bow and Mass Ave with upgraded ADA compliant ramps.