Newfane Traffic Calming Committee
To make our roads safer throughout town for everyone.
Meeting Minutes—Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Present: Katy Johnson-Aplin, Joan Weir, Lance Lindgren, Sue Berg, Breeze Verdant, Wannetta Powling, Henriette Mantel, Jeff Chevalier (by zoom).

The meeting at the Newfane town office began at 6:02 p.m.
The meeting minutes (Sept. 20, 2023) were reviewed and accepted for approval.

Williamsville welcome sign update—Katy informed the Committee that the Selectboard has approved the cost of two welcome signs. Signs will be made and installed by winter.

Local speed enforcement in a small, rural town—Sue shared a memo from Kelly Knotek of VT League of Cities and Towns. For a rural town, it is a heavy lift both cost-wise and liability-wise to create a police department. Contracting with the sheriff is easiest, and less risky, but can be a costly path. There was a discussion regarding sharing the cost of speed enforcement with neighboring towns. There is general agreement that the Committee would like to see upwards of 20 hours per week of speed enforcement in Newfane. The Committee will draft a letter to the Selectboard with our concerns and suggested next steps.

Beautification efforts—Jeff provided an update on the 6 benches that will be located around town. A press release will be sent out seeking proposals for bench design. Benches will be built and installed in the Spring of 2024.

Road Signs—We discussed the Hiker/Cyclist/Horse signs and decided to add more roads and to order up to 20 of these signs. The signs would be placed on gravel roads, in tandem with the speed limit sign. Henriette will work with Jay to finalize costs and the road list.

 Budget Season presentation to Selectboard—Katy wants Committee members to bring forth a proposal for the Selectboard’s review, once we finalize what we think needs to be in the proposal (new signs, increased speeding enforcement, beautification efforts, etc.).

Next steps—These items include:

1)Draft a letter to the Selectboard re: speed enforcement suggestions (Breeze).
2)Finalize the needed road signs list, including the covered bridge height alert sign (Henriette).
3)Draft a traffic ordinance proposal to incorporate sign location changes (Katy).

No future meetings were scheduled.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Joan Weir