SUMMER RESIDENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Chatham, Massachusetts
Minutes of the Meeting of August 7, 2009
Present: Bob Champlin, Don Edge, Kay Flynn, Hal Kraus, Jill MacDonald, Bill McGagh, Katherine Malfa, Hugh Moulton, Philip Richardson and Peter Tarrant
Guests Speaker: Jeff Colby, Director of Highway Department
Chairman Jill MacDonald called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M.
1. Jeff Colby informed the Committee that he is now the Director of Public Works and is responsible for water and sewer as well as highway and transportation. Along with this change, the water and sewer departments will be moving to the Department of Public Works on Crowell Road.
Jeff gave the Committee an overview of current projects. In 2007, 16 public work projects were approved, including improvements to intersections, sidewalks, bike paths and resurfacing. Some of these projects are nearing completion and others are in the design phase. The West Chatham project is currently in the design stage and will include improvements in two intersections (George Rider and Barnhill) and the area between them. Terry Whalen is taking the lead on the design phase of this project.
Hugh Moulton inquired as to the long-term plan for the bike path. Jeff explained that the Bikeways Committee is working on a master plan that would connect the bike path to the beaches and the West Chatham corridor. Peter Tarrant noted that bike safety is an issue, particularly in areas where bikers are required to cross public roads, and questioned whether we have sufficient signs and crosswalk markings to alert bikers and drivers. Several Committee members expressed the view that biking on Orleans Road is particularly dangerous because the road is narrow with many curves. Jeff Colby informed the Committee that while we can submit proposals for additional signs to the Traffic Study Committee, it is up to the state to decide whether to put signs on Route 28. Jeff also noted that while the new sewer
construction is only on the West Chatham corridor, the state has plans to repave all of Route 28. There was a discussion about whether the sidewalk on Route 28, starting from Crowell Road, could be expanded to five feet when the state repaves the road.
2. The Committee approved the minutes of the meeting held on July 31, 2009.
3. Bob Champlin, Treasurer, gave the Treasurer’s report.
4. The Committee discussed the Summer Town meeting. Comments received from the audience are being summarized. The Committee decided to have five new signs created for next year’s meeting. The Committee also agreed that next year’s meeting would be held on August 3, 2009.
5. The Committee discussed and approved the Finance Subcommittee’s proposal.
6. Peter Tarrant and Katherine Malfa agreed to develop recommendations for the Committee to consider regarding the bike path and the West Chatham design proposal.
7. Hal Krauss gave a report on the town’s restrooms and will continue to look at this issue.
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Katherine A. Malfa
Vice-Chairman
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