To: All Town Residents in the vicinity of the Town Common
From: Leon A. Gaumond Jr., Town Administrator
Date: December 21, 2015
Re: Report from the Town Common Study Committee
Prior to my arrival as the Town Administrator, the Board of Selectmen had formed the Town Common Study Committee to review use usage of the Town Common and to recommend policy changes as needed. Specifically there were concerns about the availability of parking at the Town Common as well as the parking on the Town Common.
By vote of the Board of Selectmen, the committee consisted of the following members: Jean Bubon (Town Planner), Greg Morse (DPW Director), Tom Chamberland (Tree Warden), Lynne Girouard (Recreation Director), Fire Chief David Zinther, Anthony Celuzza (resident), Vernon Jackson (resident), and myself as the Town Administrator.
After extensive discussion and reviewing comments from the general public, the Town Common Study Committee brought forward a series of recommendations to the Board of Selectmen. After they were presented, the Board of Selectmen asked me to hold a public hearing on the recommendations to gain input on our recommendations. The recommendations made include the following:
- To temporarily close Morse Street from Rte. 131 to Chamberlain Avenue and revisiting the issue after a few months to see its impact on the area
- To temporarily make Morse Street one-way going up the hill from the Town Common and revisiting it as above
- To consider curbing the corners of the Common
- To require parking areas be posted during larger events (such as the Harvest Festival)
- To consider making Chamberlain Avenue a permanent one-way
The Committee feels these would be positive improvements to the users of the Common, the neighbors in the area, as well as our Town Departments such as public safety, Public Works and Recreation Department who oversee events in the Common.
I will be hosting a public hearing to receive testimony from neighbors in the area as well as the public at large on the proposal. The hearing will be held on January 19th from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Veterans Hall in Sturbridge Town Hall. I will also be accepting comments via email at lgaumond@town.sturbridge.ma.us.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
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