Salem Bike Path Committee
Minutes of Meeting
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
A regular meeting of the Salem Bike Path Committee was held on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in Meeting Room 313 at City Hall Annex, 120 Washington Street.
Members Present: Chairman Stan Franzeen, Vice Chair Jeff Bellin, Dan Shuman, Christine Michelini, and Jerry Judge. Also present was Frank Taormina, Staff Planner/Harbor Coordinator.
Members Absent: Rachel Hunt, Nancy Sachetti, and David Pelletier.
Public in Attendance: Laurie Bellin (Resident, 396 Essex St), and Ward 3 Councilor Jean Pelletier
At 7:02 p.m., Chairman Franzeen called the meeting to order.
1. Approval of Minutes
Vice Chairman Bellin pointed out two spelling mistakes on page 2 of the meeting minutes. Chairman Franzeen asked for a motion to approve the meeting minutes as revised. D. Shuman made a motion to approve the February 27, 2008 minutes as revised and seconded by J. Judge. The motion passed unanimously.
2. Public Comment
Chairman Franzeen acknowledged that no one from the public was in attendance at this time so no public comments were heard.
3. Green Line Bikeway
F. Taormina updated the Committee that City Engineer Dave Knowlton and DPW Director Rick Rennard were unable to attend the meeting this evening. He also pointed out that Committee Member Dave Pelletier was not present and suggested that the item be tabled to the next scheduled meeting on April 9, 2008.
Chairman Franzeen asked for a motion to table the item to the April 9, 2008 Meeting. Motion was made by D. Shuman and seconded by Vice Chairman Bellin, and the motion passed unanimously.
4. Bike Safety Day Event
Chairman Franzeen opened the item.
Vice Chair Bellin asked about the five proposed stations to be held at the Bike Safety Day Event, specifically about who they will function and who will be manning them.
C. Michelini mentioned that at the last meeting the Committee Members agreed that one or two members would each man a station and that they would propose how to run each station.
Vice Chari Bellin mentioned that he wants to make sure that people that attend the event visit each of the stations, and asked how that can be achieved. Discussion regarding the matter ensued.
D. Shuman mentioned that he talked to David Watson, Director of Mass Bike, and they are interested in attending the event.
Chairman Franzeen talked about the competition Station and mentioned that an organization called Knuckle Bones runs athletic games for children, some that are bike related (e.g. Hub on Wheels) and some that are parent/child related. He asked if the Committee would be interested in seeing if they could attend the event.
D. Shuman stated that the Essex County Velo (ECV) hosts bike races and he would be willing to talk to them about the event also.
Vice Chair Bellin asked about potential sponsors. F. Taormina told the Committee members that he hasn’t had a chance to talk to Rinus at the Salem Chamber of Commerce yet but would do so soon, regarding both potential sponsorship and vendors.
Chairman Franzeen asked F. Taormina if Neal Todrys contact him about the Bay State Bike to Work Week and about our bike safety event. F. Taormina mentioned that he didn’t. Chairman Franzeen stated that he would follow up with Neal and send him an e-mail and cc the Committee.
Vice Chairman Bellin asked if the Committee agreed to not have a group ride after the event. F. Taormina mentioned that there is a lot involved with making that happen and at this point we shouldn’t advocate for a group ride after the event, but instead mentioned that people are welcome to ride the Green Line Bikeway or a portion of it (if it is implemented at that time).
F. Taormina updated the committee about the bike helmet program. The program only allows each community a certain amount of helmets based on the communities population and he mentioned that the Salem Police Department has already applied and he doesn’t think it is appropriate to submit two applications and challenge the Salem PD’s application. Instead, he mentioned that he will talk to the Salem PD and see if they are awarded bike helmets, if they could donate a number of them toward the bike safety event.
Chairman Franzeen asked if Lynn Bassett and/or Nicole Freeman (local Olympic Cyclists) could come and sign autographs at the event. D. Shuman mentioned that he could ask them and confirm there attendance.
Chairman Franzeen asked if someone was interested in contacting Knuckle Bones and Essex County Velo. Vice Chair Bellin stated that he would contact them and confirm their attendance. D. Shuman stated that he would contact ECV and confirm their attendance to the event.
F. Taormina mentioned that he would contact Committee Members Dave Pelletier and ask him about the status of the advertising/press release piece and give-aways from Trek Bikes.
Chairman Franzeen asked for a motion to continue the discussion to the next meeting. D. Shuman made a motion to continue discussion regarding the event till the next meeting on April 9, 2008. Seconded by J. Judge and approved unanimously by the Committee.
5. Old/New Business
D. Shuman updated the Committee on his recent trip to Washington D.C to attend the 2008 Bike Summit and passed out some handouts from the summit. Dan mentioned that there were several items at the summit worth noting, such as a congressional resolution to support Complete Streets, or the design of the new street which looks at accommodating pedestrians and cyclists first and then cars. Dan mentioned that this concept is already being considered in Boston. Dan also mentioned that there was congressional support for the Safe Routes to Scholl Program, a Bike Caucus, and the National Parks Service’s centennial challenge in 2016.
Update on the Meeting/Site Visit with the MBTA
F. Taormina updated the Committee on the meeting/site visit on Friday, February 29, 2008 with Robert Lavita from the MBTA. Frank mentioned that he walked the entire right-of-way (ROW) with him explained the City’s interest in the parcel to extend the existing bike path to downtown Salem. He mentioned that the MBTA seemed receptive to the idea and would do a bit more research and get back to him on whether or not they would entertain the idea of allowing the City to utilize the ROW to extend the bike path thru it.
No Bicycling Ordinance on Essex Street Pedestrian Mall (Ch.42, §43C)
The Committee members agreed to table this item and discuss it at their next regularly scheduled meeting.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Committee this evening Chairman Franzeen asked for a motion to adjourn.
A motion was made by Vice Chair Bellin seconded by J. Judge and approved unanimously. The meeting was officially adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
Frank Taormina,
Planner/Harbor Coordinator
BPC 03-12-08
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