Present: K. Powell, W. Morrison, C. Morrison, S. Heinrich, School Board Liaison P. McGrath
Excused: T. Koenig and M. Morrison
Guests: Superintendent M. Chiafery, Business Administrator M. Shevenell, Thorntons Ferry School Principal L. Carter
and Traffic Engineer D. DeBaie
The meeting was called to order at 7:09 PM by W. Morrison.
W. Morrison asked M. Shevenell to explain the parking lot proposed for Thorntons Ferry School. M. Shevenell noted that the district had approved $200,000 for parking at both Ferry schools. He noted that the district had hired a firm of traffic engineers to review the situation at Thorntons Ferry and come up with some potential solutions. Several concepts were presented to L. Carter and the two best plans were being presented to the committee for comment. M. Chiafery noted that the prior committee suggestions as well as the possibility of kindergarten had brought the situation to the fore-front. S. Heinrich referenced the safety concerns of the committee.
D. DeBaie presented on overview of the traffic problem from his perspective. He explained that, while the effect on the buses was a constant, he had viewed the situation as two problems: parents lining up to drop-off students in the morning and parents parking in order to go into the school to pick up students in the afternoon. He noted that he had thought that only the morning situation was resolvable, but discovered that the solution he prefers actually would help in the afternoon as well.
Plan A: Reverse the current parking lot and add another row of parking spaces to create a 28 car parking lot. Put a sidewalk in front of what is now parking space. Provide a designated one lane wide drop-off area where two cars at a time could discharge passengers under faculty supervision. Traffic would flow into the second exit from the school. Only bus traffic will enter the circle. Cars needing to park in the back will be allowed to do so. In the afternoon, parents will be able to safely park in the lot and back up to exit the lot without interfering with the bus traffic again flowing into the second exit. All traffic from the back lot would exit through the second exit as well.
Plan B: Widen the driveway, increase parking spaces and put a sidewalk on the grass behind the current parking spaces. There would be a one-way drop-off lane at the end of the All Purpose Room where parents could discharge children one car at a time but this lane would not block bus access to the circle. This solution resulted in a total of 25 parking spaces. This solution eases the morning drop-off, and even though the road would be wider, cars would still have to back-up into bus traffic during afternoon dismissal in order to exit through the second exit.
Both solutions included improved sidewalk and drainage at the end of the All Purpose Room. In addition, a sidewalk will be added to the upper parking lot. However, additional staff will be needed to ensure student safety. D. Debaie noted that parents do abide by the traffic rules, but the biggest issue may be the actual volume of cars that are coming to the school daily.
C. Morrison stated she had attended a special training session given by Eileen Pannitier for the town Planning Board on paved surfaces and water quality. She asked about catch basins, water discharge, and the line of sight for entrance and exit onto Camp Sargent Road. M. Shevenell replied that the district will consult with Meridian on those issues. C. Morrison suggested that crushed stone along the street edge might be a good plan.
S. Heinrich commented that Plan A was remarkably similar to the plan that the committee had suggested several years ago and made a motion to recommend Plan A be implemented. The motion was seconded by C. Morrison.
Discussion on the motion:
K Powell wondered about cars wanting to park or to back up in the lot and being blocked by the queue of cars waiting to drop off students. C. Morrison asked how this new configuration will figure into the plan for kindergarten. L. Carter replied that it increases potential options but was not specifically considered in relation to this proposal. C. Morrison further asked regarding sewer, the other piece of property at Thorntons Ferry and enforcement issues. L. Carter noted that D. Debaie had already commented that parents seem to follow the rules. However, he will send letters home reminding parents as needed. The vote on the motion was unanimous.
C. Morrison made a motion to recommend that the School District talk E. Pannitier about the potential for state grant aid if the paving followed certain water quality guidelines. S. Heinrich seconded the motion which passed unanimously. M. Chiafery noted that the situation might be such that waiting for the grant money to be approved would delay construction of the parking lot.
The issue of the parking lots in the Mastricola complex was raised relative to kindergarten and how busses will drop-off and pick-up when the current middle school becomes an upper elementary. M. Chiafery thanked the committee for its time and support.
S. Heinrich made a motion that the committee request placement on a School Board agenda before they vote on a final plan regarding space options at the middle school for 2002-03 so that the School Board can make an informed decision. The motion was seconded by C. Morrison. S. Heinrich stated that he wanted to present the committee position on a multi-faceted approach, and that modular classrooms do not reduce class size nor solve the current problems at the middle school. He wanted any discussion to revolve around "What is the problem?" and "How to portables help?"
C. Morrison made a motion to table voting on the motion on the floor and continue discussion at the next meeting. The motion to table was seconded by K. Powell and the vote was unanimous. The next meeting was scheduled for 7 PM, Tuesday, June 18th, location to be determined and posted.
On a motion from S. Heinrich, seconded by K. Powell, the committee voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:30 PM.
Last Updated: April 3, 2003 by Wayne Morrison