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DRAFT – DRAFT – DRAFT Lexington Sidewalk Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, December 2, 2013, 9 AM Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office Building Present: Jeanne Canale , Judy Crocker , Bettina McGimsey, Sean Osborne, Francine Stieglitz; Liaisons present: Elaine Celi, Hank Manz; Guests: see list at end of minutes Judy Crocker called the meeting of the Sidewalk Committee (SWC) to order at 9:08 AM. 1.Request for a new sidewalk on Prospect Hill Road: Sarah Champerlain and Una Gillis are the two people who are spearheading this request. Ms. Champerlain began the discussion by noting various reasons for the need for a sidewalk on Prospect Hill: 1) Bridge Elementary School is on Middleby Road which links to Prospect Hill; 2) the new light at Spring Street has resulted in Prospect Hill being used as a cut-through route; 3) children use the road to walk to both Bridge and Clarke Middle School. For all of these reasons, a sidewalk is necessary to ensure the safety of pedestrians who use the road. She noted that this is not the first time the petition has been submitted – the proponents are here to request a feasibility study for the sidewalk. At this point in the discussion, the floor was opened to audience members: Cathy Collins, 72 Prospect Hill: She has lived on Prospect Hill for over 30 years. At one point, a sidewalk on the road was approved to go all the way to Marrett on the even side of the road. This was not done, but the original intent was for that to happen. Joanne Bersick (not sure of spelling, no address given): She is an abutter and objects to the sidewalk. She noted that a sidewalk represents an imposition to her. She also noted that residents on the other side of the street have brought their landscaping and fences down to the street. Delilah Atkinson, 9 Prospect Hill: She is the fence owner and had put it up to protect her children from the street. Judy Crocker noted at this point that the intersection of Prospect Hill and Marrett Road is very wide. Drivers do not have to slow down when entering Prospect Hill. Narrowing the opening would help to slow traffic as was done in the recent renovation of the Highland Road/Winthrop Road intersection. Comments continued: Maureen Gaines, 9 Highland Road: As someone who just went through the Winthrop Road sidewalk process, she supports the cause of a sidewalk on Prospect Hill. She previously lived on Marrett and is familiar with the issues. Sarah Chamberlain, 29 Prospect Hill Road: The sidewalk can go on either side of the road. It is not about the side it goes on but rather the safety of the children. Melanie Tanionis, 30 Wachusett Drive: Safety is the priority. There are other safety options: stop sign, miles per hour sign, speed bump, etc. TSAC did a survey in late September: 330 cars per day on Prospect Hill; 80% dropped off at the school. 51 violations per day. The mph sign is in the wrong location. Beth Murnaghan 34 Wachusett Drive: Raised the concept of a crosswalk, which was then picked up by Ms. Tanionis who asked who owned the patch of land on the triangle. Judy Crocker noted that Safe Routes to School and DPW won a grant last winter that evaluated Lexington school zones. From its engineering report, many of Lexington’s school signs will need to be replaced along with other municipal road signage. These proposed improvements will help act as traffic calming measures for the neighborhoods. She also noted that the Town owns street islands. If a sidewalk is approved and there is a need for a crosswalk, current policy states that it will be incorporated into the sidewalk project. The installation of a crosswalk is done by Engineering and would be part of an engineering study. Engineering takes into account trees, hydrants, wetlands, town right-of- way, etc. when deciding upon what side of a street to place a sidewalk. Comments continued: