Minutes

Board Members Present: CCTSB Vice Chairman Eric Mulvihill; Captain Larry Jackmin-NYS Police; Deputy Chief Mike Catalano-City Police Department; Cortland County Sheriff Lee Price; Cortland County Highway Superintendent, Don Chambers; Cortland County Treasurer, Patrick O’Mara; Cortland County Health Educator, Rebecca Canzano; SUNY Cortland Police Officer, Mike Toomey, Homer Central Schools Transportation Director, Rich Rogers; Cortland City School District Transportation Director, Scott Gablenz

Tom Williams (appointment effective as of 01/24/08), Legislative Chairman of the Judiciary & Public Safety Committee

Excused: Tim Perfetti; Village of Homer Police Chief, Dan Mack; Julie Matijas & City Corporation Counsel, Larry Knickerbocker

Others Present: Angie Wyatt former CCTSB Chairman; Danny Ross, County Legislator; Lieutenant Mark Helms-Cortland County Sheriff’s Department; Undersheriff Herb Barnhart; Pam Ross, Member-Village of McGraw Board; Evan Geibel, Reporter-Cortland Standard

The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman, Eric Mulvihill at 1:00p.m.

Mr. Mulvihill welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending.

Ms. Wyatt, former Chairman of the Board explained that she could no longer serve on the Board because she relocated to Onondaga County, but is still working for the County Administrator. Mr. Mulvihill advised the Committee that Ms. Wyatt could continue to serve in the capacity of Executive Director.

Election of Officers:

- Chairman: MOTION BY LEE PRICE – 2^ND BY MIKE TOOMEY – ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR TO ELECT ERIC MULVIHILL AS CHAIRMAN OF THE CORTLAND COUNTY TRAFFIC SAFETY BOARD – MOTION PASSES

- Vice Chairman: MOTION BY ERIC MULVIHILL – 2^ND BY LEE PRICE – ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR TO ELECT TIM PERFETTI AS VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE CORTLAND COUNTY TRAFFIC SAFETY BOARD – MOTION PASSES

- Secretary: MOTION BY LEE PRICE – 2^ND BY ERIC MULVIHILL – ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR TO ELECT PATRICK O’MARA AS SECRETARY OF THE CORTLAND COUNTY TRAFFIC SAFETY BOARD

Appointment of Executive Director:

- Executive Director: MOTION BY ERIC MULVIHILL – 2^ND BY PATRICK O’MARA TO APPOINT ANGIE WYATT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CORTLAND COUNTY TRAFFIC SAFETY BOARD – ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Traffic Issues:

- Pedestrian Safety:

James Street & North Main Street (Rte. 11), Homer, New York -

Mr. Mulvihill asked that this issue be placed on the agenda for the Board’s consideration. Mr. Mulvihill feels that the intersection is dangerous for pedestrians and that it is a similar situation as where the fatal accident occurred at Church Street and Central Avenue in the City of Cortland. Mr. Rogers has heard of close calls at that intersection due to it being a very busy intersection. Mr. O’Mara inquired if stop signs could be a solution. Mr. Chambers indicated that it would be a construct ability problem because of the curbing and parking situation on North Main Street. Mr. Chambers further indicated that the NYS Department of Transportation maintains the light at that intersection. Mr. Chambers feels that maybe the signaling equipment needs to be upgraded for the timing of the light. Sheriff Price believes that intersection should become a full pedestrian phase like the Church Street/Central Avenue intersection. This means that all traffic would have to stop so that pedestrians could cross the street. Mr. Williams mentioned that he has signs in other towns and cities in the state that say “Yield to Pedestrians”. These signs are portable and are placed in the middle of the crosswalk. Mr. Mulvihill commented that motorists are not use to stopping for pedestrians in the middle of the road. Mr. Chambers agreed. Ms. Wyatt commented that no matter what, because that intersection is a state road, it comes down to getting the NYSDOT to do it. It was suggested that we contact Stan Birchenough, our local NYSDOT representative to inquire if anything could be done at this intersection. MOTION BY MR. ROGERS – 2^ND BY SHERIFF PRICE THAT THE NYS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BE CONTACTED TO INQUIRE IF THE INTERSECTION AT JAMES STREET & NORTH MAIN STREET (ROUTE 11) IN HOMER, NEW YORK COULD HAVE A FULL PEDESTRIAN PHASE IN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CYCLE AND/OR A PORTABLE “YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS” SIGN PLACED THERE – ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Tompkins Street (Route 13) & McLean Road – “NO TURN ON RED” Signage - Cortland, New York (Town of Cortlandville) –

BY CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD, IT WAS AGREED THAT WE WILL PURSUE THE REQUEST FOR A “NO TURN ON RED” SIGN ON TOMPKINS STREET AT MCLEAN ROAD (AT FOOTIES FREEZE).

- Traffic Flow:

Route 281/Route 41/Clinton Street Extension, Homer, New York

Mr. Mulvihill is concerned about the traffic flow problem at this intersection. The biggest problem is the traffic volume at certain times of day. There is a great concern for the safety of children walking to and from school. Visibility is a problem there too. It was suggested that the light be re-timed to allow more traffic through so it does not get so congested. Ms. Wyatt informed the Board that she received a phone call from Homer Mayor Mike McDermott and he advised her that the NYSDOT plans to work on that intersection in the near future. Ms. Wyatt did not know the specifics but indicated that she will find out. Board members expressed a desire to also receive feedback on this issue from the NYSDOT.

Cortlandville Request (McLean Road)

Ms. Wyatt provided the Board with a request to Cortland County Highway Superintendent, Don Chambers from the Cortlandville Town Board for lowering the speed limit in the Town of Cortlandville on McLean Road, between Deerfield Heights and the Cortland/Tompkins County line, AND to establish a “non-truck route” on McLean Road, between Fairview Drive and the Cortland/Tompkins County line. Mr. Chambers commented that Cortlandville has requested that the speed be lowered several times and the NYSDOT has denied the request every time. Mr. Chambers indicated that the request for a “non-truck route on McLean Road is a new request. The non-truck” route request came from Cortlandville resident, Raphael W. Stark III who lives at 705 McLean Road. Mr. Chambers further indicated that the NYSDOT considers McLean Road as a major collector road. Sheriff Price said that the biggest complaint they have received regarding the truck traffic on McLean Road was the noise. If truck traffic was to be eliminated on McLean Road it would impact traffic in other areas. Captain Jackmin felt that he does not have enough data to make an informed decision. Mr. Chambers indicated that we would just be referring it to the NYSDOT. MOTION BY SHERIFF PRICE – 2^ND BY ERIC MULVIHILL TO RECOMMEND THAT THE REDUCTION OF THE SPEED LIMIT ISSUE BE REVISITED BY REQUESTING THE NYSDOT TO CHECK THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS CHANGE – ALL CCTSB MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

By consensus of the Cortland County Traffic Safety Board, it was agreed NOT to take any action on the Town of Cortlandville’s request to make McLean Road a “non-truck” route.

Brief Update of Current Grants:

Lieutenant Helms reported that through the STEP (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) Grant, they ticketed 256 people in the area of Routes 13 & 281. 47 speeding tickets, 19 aggressive driving tickets and 190 cell phone use and seat belt violation tickets were issued. Lieutenant Helms indicated that they are also ticketing pedestrians on Tompkins Street if they are not crossing at the Crosswalks. The Sheriff’s Department and the County Health Education Department have been working together to educate people and children in the Tompkins Street/McLean Road/Starr Road area on pedestrian safety. That area has had numerous pedestrian fatalities. Ms. Canzano commented that the children are more knowledgeable about pedestrian safety than the parents are. The Sheriff’s Department and Health Department will continue the pedestrian safety education this year.

Ms. Wyatt advised the Board that County Legislator, Carol Tytler brought up an available grant opportunity at the Legislative Agriculture/Planning/Environmental Committee untitled “Safe Routes to School Program”. The purpose of the SRTS Program is to enable and to encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school, to make bicycling and walking a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age, and to facilitate the planning, development and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity of schools. Ms. Canzano indicated that the Cortland City School District is working with Thoma Development to apply for this grant that will target Randall Elementary School on Randall Street in the City. Ms. Canzano will forward the Thoma Development contact person information to Ms. Wyatt. Ms. Wyatt indicated that the Planning Department could assist in writing grants.

Mr. Chambers asked that the intersection at Albany Street/Route 11 be discussed at the next meeting. Ms. Wyatt will also invite a representative from the NYSDOT to attend the meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 1:00p.m. in Room 304 of the County Office Building.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:10p.m.

The minutes were taken and prepared by Angie Wyatt, Executive Director