TOWN OF BEDFORD
HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 25, 2008
A meeting of the Bedford Highway Safety Committee was held on Tuesday, March 25, 2007 in the Bedford Meeting Room, 10 Meetinghouse Road (BCTV). Present were: David C. Bailey (Chief of Police), Scott Wiggin (Fire Chief), Jim Stanford (Director of Public Works), Bill Dermody (Alternate Town Councilor), Gerry Gagne (Resident), Tony Grande (Alternate Town Resident) and Anne Wiggin (School Traffic Coordinator).
The meeting was called to order at 7:17 am.
Chief Bailey appointed Bill Dermody in Paul Roy’s absence Approval of minutes for the September 25, 2007 meeting. Motion Jim Stanford to accept; seconded Gerry Gagne motion passed with two abstentions.
Annual Organization Meeting
Appointments to the committee are as follows:
David C. Bailey – Chairman
Scott Wiggin – Vice-Chairman
New Business
Chief Bailey presented the highway safety grant wish list for the coming fiscal year. DWI enforcement patrol, traffic light enforcement patrol (red light violation), seat belt enforcement patrol which has already been state approved and is on the agenda for the Town Council meeting tomorrow night and speed enforcement patrol (for the two major highways) to enforce speed and any other violations. It is 100% funded. If accepted it includes all benefits and over time salary; sixty hour patrol with three hour blocks. Also, Chief Bailey said they are looking into getting bicycle helmets. When the children are stopped helmets would be provided to that child. Chief Bailey is also looking into increasing the stinger spike strips for high speed chase pursuits. Training is provided, however
he does discourage high speed chases. Any equipment grant is a 50/50 grant. Tony Grande asked about cameras for the red lights. Chief Bailey said there is a very strong privacy lobby against it with the Legislators however Chief Bailey would like to look into again because it has been very successful in other States. Chief Bailey said in NH you need to prove who the operator of the vehicle is which can be difficult. Chief Wiggin questioned any updating on a radar trailer? Chief Bailey maybe someday as, they are very expensive would like to look into permanent radar screens. We have also looked into sign boards for road closures which also can be very expensive.
Comments and Concerns
Chief Bailey mentioned that he and Chief Wiggin met with the DOT emergency management co-directors and they had a telephone conversation with the Governor regarding the possible up coming flooding. The major issue we have is Route101 at the Bedford/Amherst town line at Twin Brook Lane, which had to be shut down last year. We have mapped out alternatives routes with the state which is not an easy solution.
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 am.
Respectfully submitted by Charlene T. Robinson, Highway Safety Committee Secretary
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