Concerns about speeding on Marion’s roads, articulated a couple of years back by since-retired Select Board member John Waterman, eventually led to the formation of a Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee. That committee’s work is now bearing fruit
An update was jointly provided by Meghan Davis, engineering manager with the Department of Public Works and Town Administrator Jay McGrail during Tuesday night’s public meeting of the Marion Select Board, based on a 102-page report from GPI Consulting, which was contracted to analyze speeding in town.
In a 6:15 pm appointment, Davis arrived with three recommendations for the Select Board’s consideration, led by a proposed speed-limit reduction from 30 mph to 25 mph on village roads. Another safety measure for the village is a proposed speed bump on Front Street near the Music Hall just north of Island Wharf.
The speed bump, explained Davis, would be removable and seasonal.
Select Board Chairman Randy Parker said the committee should consider Converse Road in the package. “I just don’t want to leave them out because their grade failed miserably in that report,” he said.
Merry Conway suggested that Pleasant Street has become “an incredible bypass.”
Davis agreed to review what GPI recommended for Converse Road. Point Road, said McGrail, was not being put on the table for Tuesday’s discussion. “We went at it from, ‘What can we do now that would change things?’ And then we looked at longer-term recommendations,” he said.
Three other Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee members, Nick and Mike Russo and Noel Pardo, arrived at various times to contribute to the discussion.
“I’ve seen so many near misses it’s frightening,” said Pardo, referring to summer-season speeding around Tabor Academy. He said the camp counselors escort the children across the street not because they don’t trust the kids but because they don’t trust the drivers.
“I see a whole bunch of what we’ll call deterrents, things that would cost minimal,” said committee member Mike Russo. “I think you’ll see a lot of town support, to be honest.”
His father Nick Russo, also a committee member, asked about the possibility of installing rumble strips at select locations.
Select Board member Toby Burr said that enforcement would have to be part of any measure’s success and noted that auto insurance companies treat a non-speeding accident “very differently” then if the vehicle in question was exceeding the limit at the time of an incident.
McGrail instructed the Select Board that while Town Counsel instructed him that a simple vote from the board can institute a speed-limit change, there is no rush. McGrail suggested a process that will begin with a community-wide email blast and provide ample room for citizen feedback, after which the matter will go onto the agenda for discussion at the board’s August 16 meeting.
“It’s not a legal public hearing, but we’ll treat it as one,” said McGrail.
Because Tuesday’s Select Board meeting was held in open air under the new pavilion at the Cushing Community Center, the board welcomed Conway, Diane Cosman and Harry Norweb, all three of whom have been key players in organizing the fundraising, design and construction of the pavilion without any impact on taxpayers.
In his Town Administrator’s Report, McGrail followed up on Marion’s July 1 fireworks and the July 4 parade, thanking staff and numerous volunteers, the Police and Fire departments, Harbormaster Isaac Perry and Donna Hemphill, without whom he said there would have been no parade.
The board’s June 9 vote to order humane euthanizing of David and Jennifer MacDonald’s dog Stella, now being kept in a Dartmouth pen, was appealed to state authorities. The case will be heard in Wareham District Court on Tuesday, July 19, at 9:30 am.
The Sippican Historical Society has stepped up with a gift exceeding $100,000 that will upgrade the HVAC system in the Music Hall.
McGrail asked for the Select Board’s recommendations how to allocate $250,000 on fall-season paving projects. He said that County Road has a newly paved section but another between it and the Wareham town line. He suggested the board consider finishing what is now a spotty road.
Other roads under consideration are Front Street near Route 6, the L-shape of roads around the Town House. Delano Road to Point Road also scored poorly in the recent report. Parker considers Delano Road the worst.
A $2,000,000 water main upgrade near Wings Cove is shovel ready, according to McGrail.
Lastly, he told the board that the town is looking to hire a Human Resources director.
Under Action Items, the board voted to approve Chief of Police Richard Nighelli’s recommendation to appoint Mark Norman a part-time police officer effective July 13 for a one-year probationary period.
Alisha Crosby’s one-year probationary period has expired, and the board voted to approve the promotion of the first female supervisor in Marion Police Department history to full-time sergeant. Peter Bourgault is leaving full-time police duty but will remain on part-time, special duty, in accordance with the board’s vote of approval.
The board voted to approve the appointment of Matt Shultz as an associate member of the Conservation Commission. The six-year Marion resident is an experienced engineer who deals with wetlands projects and shoreline protection. Shultz was appointed to a three-year term.
A long list of board and committee reappointments was approved by the Select Board.
Other votes approved an appropriation transfer of $40,000 from the Recreation Department to the DPW to cover a portion of Operations Manager Jody Dickerson’s salary. The Finance Committee voted its approval during its most recent meeting.
The Select Board voted to approve an amendment to the Marion Social Club’s previously approved, one-day liquor license to add Sunday, August 28, as a rain date for the August 27 Town Party.
The board gave McGrail the green light to add an additional one-way arrow for Main Street, in accordance with resident Andrew Bonney’s request.
The board also voted to approve water-sewer commitments quarterly billing of $1,180,011.08 (June 15), $30,924.06 (June 17), and $1,334.39 (June 14); low-pressure pump repairs $429 (June 29); and final readings of $1,265.01 (June 29) and $491.16 (June 29.)
The final Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP) workshop will be held on Wednesday, July 20, at 4:00 pm via Zoom. The next regular meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, August 16, at 6:00 pm at the Marion Police Station on Route 6.
Marion Select Board
By Mick Colageo
There is an error in the account of my comments to the council. I never represented myself as a member of the committee. When the report was introduced and my sons name was listed as a committee member and in the event I had something to contribute, I felt the need to notify the Selectmen and people in attendance of our relationship. If I were a member of the committee would I have asked if they considered rumble strips? I went to the meeting because I’m tired of people speeding around a blind curve on Point Road that’s close to Joanne Drive. They can’t see anyone coming out of Joanne Drive and the person coming out can’t see them..