VILLAGE OF MAMARONECK
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS
AUGUST 12, 2009
PRESENT: Myron Tannenbaum, Chairman
John Barney
Joseph Castellani
Harry Hazelwood
Joseph Mazzullo
Carlo Reca
Rod Brendolan, Fire Department Liaison
Chris Jaeger, Police Department Liaison
OTHERS: Norman Rosenblum, Resident
Residents from Barry Avenue neighborhood
RECORDING
SECRETARY: Anne Hohlweck
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Tannenbaum called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
OLD BUSINESS
REQUEST FROM NANA’S KIDS TO AMEND UN-METERED PARKING
TIME LIMITS ON VAN RANST
Nana’s Kids is requesting that parking time limits be changed from 90 Minutes to 3-4 Hours on Van Ranst.
The Sign permits 90 Minutes parking. This is not in the Code.
Code prohibits 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. parking on the north side. It should be the west side.
Mr. Brendolan said the railroad side has meters.
Dr. Tannenbaum said the errors in the Code need to be corrected first.
Mr. Brendolan said that the 90 Minutes parking sign needs to be taken down.
Mr. Hazelwood asked why they are requesting longer parking.
The Board believes the three hours parking request is for the benefit of the employees who pay to park and have to leave to go fill the meters.
** MR. BARNEY MOVED TO RESCIND NO PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF VAN RANST FROM 9 A.M. TO 7 P.M.; APPROVE THREE HOURS PARKING ON VAN RANST FROM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, AND RUNNING FROM JEFFERSON AVENUE TO MAMARONECK AVENUE ON THE WEST SIDE.
** MR. HAZELWOOD SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
NEW BUSINESS
STOP SIGNS ON BARRY AVENUE (VILLAGE MANAGER & POLICE CHIEF)
Several families living on and near South Barry Avenue appeared to address the speeding issue. The group is requesting that stop signs be placed on South Barry Avenue, and to put up ‘Child At Play’ signs.
Mr. Castellani asked when the speeding is at its worst.
Ms. Miller said that the day hours are better than the evening, and is the worst after 8 p.m. Many of the speeders are residents of the area, she added. There was an incident where a dog was killed by the Mamaroneck Yacht Club, she said. Mr. Brendolan asked if the dog was loose. Mr. Nigro answered yes.
Ms. Miller went on to say that motorists are not adhering to the 25 MPH speed limit on Guion Drive on the Shore Acres side. Mr. Hazelwood said the speed was lowered to 25 MPH.
Mr. Sevean asked about the amount of tickets that have been issued.
Police Officer Jaeger said that this can be checked out with the court. Officer Jaeger also said many of the speeders are local residents.
Ms. Lee said that going downhill on South Barry Avenue to Guion Drive is a good location for a sign, and at Stuart and South Barry Avenue.
Mr. Kates said that these two stop signs make sense.
Ms. Miller said that she supports the stop sign locations mentioned above. She believes that the more signs put up, the better.
Dr. Tannenbaum said, and after listening to the comments, that New York State does not permit the installation of a stop sign to slow down motorists. There has to be a history of accidents at an intersection, as example, that would warrant a stop sign to be put up.
Mr. Hazelwood read from the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) which says stop signs are not to be used for speed control. Unwarranted stop signs are in violation of the MUTCD.
Mr. Hazelwood continued reading that stop signs are used to assign a right-of-way and reduce accidents.
Mr. Barney said that it is not about cost, it is a legal issue.
Mr. Nigro said that down South Barry Avenue to Shore Acres Drive there is a 4-way stop sign.
Mr. Barney said it is there for a right-of-way.
Mr. Nigro asked about speed bumps.
Dr. Tannenbaum said that speed bumps cannot be used on public property. He added that Digitals do not work either. There has to be a resolution within the law he said.
Mr. Hazelwood said that studies have been done that drivers resent too many stop signs and sometimes run the sign, or speed up after having to stop, to make up for lost time. Also when drivers are forced to come to a complete stop, it has resulted in rear-end collisions. He further said that compliance is poor for unwarranted signs. Safety of pedestrians is decreased with unwarranted stop signs. He said that the solution is enforcement.
Dr. Tannenbaum said that the volume of traffic on South Barry does not warrant more stop signs.
Mr. Nigro said that Shore Acres has stop signs and there is not much volume.
Mr. Barney said that the sign is there for right-of-way.
Ms. Miller said that there is a recently installed sign on South Barry Avenue at Alda Road.
Dr. Tannenbaum said that the speeding is an enforcement issue. He said that there should be no warning when motorists are stopped for speeding, but a ticket issued.
Mr. Brendolan suggested contacting the police, put radar on, and issue tickets.
Mr. Barney said that since speeding is done by residents, he suggested going to the homeowners’ association.
Dr. Tannenbaum said that a unit should be set up to oversee. He said that word will get out quickly.
Dr. Tannenbaum said data is needed to support putting up a sign such as accidents, deaths, rear-end collisions, etc.
Ms. Miller said she understands and now knows their request is hindered by New York law.
Dr. Tannenbaum said that there will be a site visit. A recommendation will be made to the Village Trustees. He will advise the Trustees as best as possible.
Mr. Reca said that the Boston Post Road in the Village of Mamaroneck is maintained by the State and there are procedures to get traffic lights and stop signs, whereas cities such as Rye can do their own maintenance.
Mr. Nigro said that the old light post with signage on South Barry on the right side is twisted and cannot be seen. It is facing Stuart and is 100 feet in from the Boston Post Road (at the house with the retaining wall). Mr. Hazelwood noted the information.
Dr. Tannenbaum asked that they return at the September meeting to continue the discussion.
No further action was taken.
DO NOT ENTER SIGN ON THE CORNER OF BOSTON POST RD & OLD POST RD (RESIDENT/MAZZIO)
It was noted that there is much signage at this location, and the addition of one sign will not be an issue.
Mr. Hazelwood said that there is a one-way sign at Orienta Avenue and Old Post Road. Coming out of Fairway Green is a left-hand turn only.
Mr. Brendolan suggested putting up a sign on telephone pole on Old Post Lane.
Mr. Hazelwood said a one-way sign is in the Code.
Dr. Tannenbaum said to put the sign on the pole.
** MR. BRENDOLAN MOVED TO APPROVE A ‘WRONG WAY’ SIGN BE PUT ON THE TELEPHONE POLE AT THE CORNER OF OLD POST LANE AND OLD POST ROAD ON THE GOLF COURSE SIDE.
** MR. BARNEY SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
Three residents of Melbourne Avenue appeared concerning the safety on Melbourne and its surrounding streets. As per Mr. & Mrs. Meyer’s letter dated August 10, 2009 to the Traffic Commissioner, Mr. Meyer pointed out that approximately thirty children under the age of twelve live on Melbourne Avenue. A concern is with the Mamaroneck Community Nursery School (MCNS) that is located on the corner of Melbourne and Tompkins Avenue. This school has an enrollment of hundreds of small children. The families are requesting that two stop signs and crosswalks be placed on Melbourne Avenue and the streets leading to it. Their complaint is that trucks and cars routinely speed down Melbourne at over 30 MPH. He is proposing that stop signs be added on the corners of Melbourne Avenue and Tompkins
Avenue heading north and south on Tompkins. Mr. Meyer made a change to his letter voiding his third stop sign request.
Mr. Hazelwood corrected the directions in Mr. Meyer’s letter from north/south to east/west. He added that the enclosed map directions are not correct.
Mr. Meyer said the parking lot on the nursery school side has many cars going in and out and it is difficult to see clearly. He added that the facility also holds evening events and church meetings. Parents parking on Melbourne cannot see cars coming from the Boston Post Road that are traveling at a high rate of speed.
Mr. Meyer said that cars rounding the corner off Tompkins onto Melbourne clip the corner and hug the curb. He said at the slope of the hill when cars are parked, one cannot see beyond the parked cars.
Mr. Mazzullo said that because of the slope, cars go up an incline.
Dr. Tannenbaum said the slope of the road is unique.
Mr. Peterson said that he came close to being hit in the crosswalk, and asked that well-marked crosswalks be added to the streets noted above, as well as to the corner of Melbourne Avenue and Hinman Place.
Mr. Meyer asked if there is a history of accidents at the location.
Mr. Hazelwood said he was not aware. He suggested that volunteers help out with the traffic congestion and with pedestrians crossing. Mr. Meyer said it is a problem at all hours.
Mr. Reca said that a solution is to remove some parking spaces.
Dr. Tannenbaum said that the Commission will make a site visit of the area.
He asked that they return in September to continue the discussion.
No further action was taken.
Mr. Hazelwood said that the stop sign on in front of CVS on Mamaroneck Avenue is improper. Rather, it should be a yield sign. Motorists are stopping when no one is in the intersection.
Mr. Brendolan presented letters concerning fire lanes as follows:
- No Parking Fire Lane Sign on Derman Avenue.
Mr. Hazelwood to contact the DPW to put up fire lane sign on Derman Avenue. A public hearing was scheduled on September 11, 2006 to add the following area as a designated fire lane:
Mamaroneck Avenue School, Derman Avenue access: The entire length of Derman Avenue, both sides, from Ralph Avenue to the dead end at the school. Mr. Brendolan believed it was passed and said that it is not in the Code.
Requests from the Fire Department, dated December 22, 2008, were made to designate three additional fire lanes and schedule a public hearing as follows:
- The driveway in front of the new school entrance at Mamaroneck Avenue Elementary School from Derman Avenue, east to Gertrude Avenue, designate a fire lane.
- Fire lane at Daniel Warren School, 1310 Harrison Avenue. Designate the entire front driveway area of the school as a fire lane.
- Livingston Avenue – Designate a fire lane on the north side from Fenimore Road to a point 225 feet east thereof, and adjacent to the apartment complex at 151 Fenimore Road.
A public hearing was scheduled for February 9, 2009.
Mr. Brendolan will check on the status and report back in September.
‘No Parking’ signs missing on Claflin Avenue to Bleeker Avenue.
Dr. Tannenbaum said that a traffic engineering study is being conducted on Harrison Avenue and Barry Avenue at E. Post Road to change over to LED lights.
Mr. Reca noted that signage is being put up without the traffic commission’s knowledge.
There is a ‘No Parking’ sign on Prospect by Molly Spillane’s.
Dr. Tannenbaum said that the signs are enforceable until one is ticketed and fights it. If found that the sign is not in the Code, then the ticket is invalid.
Mr. Hazelwood said that the Traffic Commission is being circumvented with signage going up.
JUNE MINUTES
** MR. BARNEY MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JUNE 10, 2009.
** MR. CASTELLANI SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADJOURNMENT
** MR. BARNEY MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
** MR. BRENDOLAN SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
PREPARED BY: RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY:
Anne Hohlweck Augustino A. Fusco
Clerk-Treasurer
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