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Deputy Supervisor Kathy Stanton chaired the recent town of Poland board meeting. Ongoing projects and future purchases were discussed.
During the first privilege of the floor, a resident read a letter she had previously sent to the town concerning the speed limit on Route 62 coming into the four corners in Kennedy from the south. Traffic speed makes it hard for residents to walk the road safely, the resident said, and noise levels make it hard to sit outside.
The resident expressed concern that the speed limits in the town are not being enforced, and that the limits themselves are too high for the safety of residents in the hamlet. She commented that other local municipalities have lower speed limits in residential areas. Highway Superintendent Larry Mee stated that the Sheriff's Office was still planning to place a portable speed sign on Route 62 on town property to inform drivers how fast they are going as they approach the four corners. Since it is a state road, this would be a first step to see if something needed to be done.
Stanton reported that the accessibility committee had met recently. Signs have been received to inform people where exits and facilities are as well as handicap parking spots. Where to paint stripes in the parking lot at the town hall was also discussed. A railing will be placed on one side of the pavilion in Hallquist Park after the rest of the work to finish the structure is completed. Whether paths in the park needed to be wider for accessibility was considered.
Under new business, it was noted that budget worksheets had been handed out and needed to be finished. Workshops will be scheduled soon. A meeting will be held to discuss the proposal from highway department workers for a new three-year contract. Councilman Terry Walker told the board that he had been contacted about the speed limit on Sprague Hill. Mee replied that many speed studies have been done over the years in the town, with speed limits being lowered in many areas. He then stated that some drivers just do not follow the posted limits. Walker wondered if there was some way to make sure there is better enforcement of existing laws.
Mee gave the board a copy of a paper he prepared on how to pay for a new truck without a BAN. In the report, he detailed ways to use funds from his budget and other highway department funds for this year and next year. A quote for a new 10-wheeler was just received that day, and came in at $217,000. This would replace the 2002 International dump truck currently in use, which is a single-axle.
If the truck is ordered now, it takes six months lead time for it to arrive, and another two months for the dealer to install all the necessary equipment for the town. This would enable the bills to be reimbursed sooner by earlier CHIPS funding requests. Board members felt it was a reasonable request, and Mee did not expect purchasing the truck to hurt his department's ability to maintain town roads. A motion passed to allow the purchase.
The next regular town of Poland board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. in the town hall. Supervisor Kelly Snow will be available at 5:30 p.m. to meet with residents about their concerns. The public is encouraged to attend.