PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
JULY 5, 2005
7:00 P.M.
SOUTH WINDSOR COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PURPOSE: To Receive Citizen Input on a Proposed Ordinance Prohibiting Tractor-Trailer Truck Traffic on Beldon Road and Portions of Governor’s Highway in South Windsor
Mayor Havens called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Clerk of the Council read the call of the meeting (a copy of which is attached hereto). There were approximately 20 people in the audience.
The following Town Council Members were present:
Mayor Edward Havens
Deputy Mayor John Pelkey
Councillor Thomas Delnicki
Councillor Deborah Fine
Councillor Elizabeth Pendleton
Councillor Cary Prague
Councillor Matthew Streeter
Councillor Roseann Williams
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Also
Present: Town Manager Matthew Galligan
Town Attorney Barry Guliano
Town Attorney Barry Guliano explained that what this proposed Ordinance would do is: (1) Prohibit tractor-trailer truck traffic on all of Beldon Road (excepting someone who had either a “beginning” or an “end” point of one of the residences on that road, i.e., a moving van), and a portion of Governor’s Highway (from its intersection with Ellington Road up to the end of the residential zone—or at the Temple located at 20 Baker Lane).
Public Hearing Minutes
Re: Proposed Ordinance Prohibiting Tractor-Trailer Truck Traffic on Beldon Rd.
And Portions of Governor’s Highway in South Windsor
Page 2
July 5, 2005
Continuing, Atty. Guliano explained that tractor-trailer trucks would have to come into Governor’s Highway from the other end—Route #5. He also provided the definition of a “tractor-trailer truck” as any motor vehicle that either pulls or tows a semi-trailer, or is designed to pull or tow a semi-trailer—this definition would also include only the “cab” to such a vehicle.
Mayor Havens asked if the businesses involved have been notified of this Public Hearing; and Atty. Guliano replied that he believed they had been. The Mayor then opened the meeting to the public for comments.
Speaking from the public were:
Karina Butler, 596 Governor’s Highway, who provided some background on the years of this ongoing problem and Town-involvement. She said the main reason she was present this evening was because she felt “the width of the road in that area is just too narrow for trucks.” Emphasizing that Governor’s Highway has quite a bit of tractor-trailer traffic, she gave examples of the dangers involved with this situation; the fact that the daily newspaper is no longer delivered on foot, or on bicycle because of these dangers.
Another problem, according to Mrs. Butler, was the Connecticut Transit buses. She added that, following the Town Manager’s efforts to eliminate this new hazard, Ct. Transit—not wanting the possible liability—found alternate routes. She felt it was now time to ask that the tractor-trailer trucks discontinued their use of the residential end of Governor’s Highway. She cited other routes available to the trucking companies within the industrial park, and via Route 5.
Robert Benson, 15 West Road, came before Council to complain about tractor-trailer trucks, and flatbed trucks (carrying 40-ton bulldozers) using West Road “as a shortcut to Sullivan Avenue.” He named some of the companies whose trucks are included in this category. Stating that there are 16 private homes on this road, some of which house small children, Mr. Benson again pointed out that, with the exception of certain service vehicles, such as oil trucks or trucks delivery loam or gravel, there is no need for huge tractor-trailer trucks or flatbeds to be on West Road except as a short-cut to Sullivan Avenue. He felt the solution, in this case, is “restrictive tonnage.”
Public Hearing Minutes
Re: Proposed Ordinance Prohibiting Tractor-Trailer Truck Traffic on Beldon Rd.
And Portions of Governor’s Highway in South Windsor
Page 3
July 5, 2005
(At 7:15 p.m. Mayor Havens recessed the Public Hearing in order to call the Work Session to order. He then immediately recessed the Work Session and returned to the Public Hearing.)
Next to speak was Mr. Tony Snuck, 560 Governor’s Highway, asked if the Town intended to provide a “turn-around” space for those tractor-trailer trucks from out of State that are unfamiliar with the Town’s restrictions with regard to that road. Mr. Snuck also took time to commend South Windsor’s Police Department for the “superb job they have done stopping the speeders” on Governor’s Highway.
Mr. Snuck said his only other complaint was associated with two local companies—the speed they employ, and the noise they generate. He named Waste Management and one of the Kasheta companies (he described it as the lawn mower people).
Mr. Donald Dubiel, 608 Governor’s Highway, stated that he didn’t care if trucks come down Governor’s Highway (and he didn’t care what kind of trucks) as long as the Town kept all the traffic on Governor’s Highway to the posted 25 mph speed limit. He concluded his remarks by admonishing the Town and the trucking companies to either “uphold the traffic laws on the street or get all the trucks off the street—including dump trucks, WMZ trucks, commercial trucks, etc.
Mr. Dubiel pointed out that Governor’s Highway is 1-1/2 miles from Chapel Road, a road whose stretch from Route 5 to Ellington Road is zoned “strictly commercial” and is better suited to this kind of traffic because it is 1-1/3 times wider than Governor’s Highway. He also referred to the fact that Sullivan Avenue is only 2 miles away; and took issue with the complaint from businesses that they “lose too much time” by diverting their commercial vehicles to other local roads.
Tim Wentzell, 630 Governor’s Highway, and a 30-year resident of that street enumerated the changes that had taken place in volume of traffic, noise levels because of that traffic, etc. over those years. He stated, briefly, that because of these changes, he was “very much in favor of this Ordinance.”
Public Hearing Minutes
Re: Proposed Ordinance Prohibiting Tractor-Trailer Truck Traffic on Beldon Rd.
And Portions of Governor’s Highway in South Windsor
Page 4
July 5, 2005
Linda Dagenais, 90 Beldon Road, another 30-year-resident of that area, pointed out that Mike Carew, a former resident, had also tried (several years ago) to get this Ordinance into effect. She pointed out that the trucks have now gotten larger and, she added, “inconsiderate.” She pointed out the “blind spot” on Ellington Road for these trucks coming in and out of Beldon, and the proximity to activities and parking areas associated with the restaurant, Mill on the River.
Ms. Dagenais, too, referred to the “speed” of both trucks and automobiles using Governor’s Highway via Beldon Road to get to Route 5 in the morning on their way to work. She mentioned school children coming out for school buses when school is in session.
Mike Willadsen, 50 Beldon Road, said that since his move to Beldon Road in 1985, the population of South Windsor has “almost doubled,” as have all the problems associated with this increase in population. He reiterated the complaint against Waste Management and Kasheta’s but added that the former comments with regard to these two companies failed to mentioned that very often all of this took place at 5:30 a.m. or 6:00 a.m., or late in the afternoon.
Mr. Willadsen said he was present at a meeting 15 years ago when the homeowners met with some of the owners of the trucking companies in an effort to come to a conclusion as to what could be done to satisfy everyone. He said he would reiterate the request made 15 years ago—“Tell your drivers to respect the signs that the Town has put up requesting that your drivers not utilize these roads.” He added—“They haven’t done that,” he said, for possibly a variety of reasons. He added that he has replaced “four” mailboxes because of speeding traffic. He concluded his remarks by saying that he supported the Ordinance; and by adding his appreciation for the Town Council’s efforts on behalf of its citizens.
Ms. Dagenais, 90 Beldon Road, came forward again to request that the Town Manager have someone in Public Works take a look at a “bump” between #80 and #90 Beldon Road that is adding to the traffic problems and causing a “loud noise” by many of the vehicles passing over it.
Public Hearing Minutes
Re: Proposed Ordinance Prohibiting Tractor-Trailer Truck Traffic on Beldon Rd.
And Portions of Governor’s Highway in South Windsor
Page 5
July 5, 2005
Noting that there were no more residents who wished to speak, Mayor Havens called for a “straw vote” on the proposed Ordinance, as follows:
All those in favor of the proposed Ordinance 16
All those opposed to the proposed Ordinance 0
The Public Hearing was concluded at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia R. Brown
Clerk of the Council
Attmt. (Public Hearing Notice)
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