Crossing guard’s concerns continue at meeting

NORTH CANAAN — The town’s only crossing guard urged the school board Feb. 14 to continue to address safety issues at both the crosswalk on Railroad Street/Route 7 and at the school.Don Caranci is concerned that not enough is being done to stop people who regularly park in the fire lanes by the school, who violate the one-way designation on Pease Street in front of the school and who speed through what is now a designated school zone on Railroad Street. Since he was reassigned last year to the crosswalk on Route 7 at Orchard and Bragg streets, he has seen driver behavior that he finds disturbing. He has spoken out about it repeatedly to the school board and school administrators. Last fall, for example, a North Canaan Elementary School parent was arrested after she nearly ran Caranci and a student over in the crosswalk.During the public comment period, he asked if the board’s transportation committee was meeting regularly and about the status of additional signage that is supposed to be installed.Principal Rosemary Keilty noted the new one-way signs on Pease Street, which were installed at the direction of the Board of Selectmen and recommended in a traffic engineering report.Caranci said he understood there would be new fire lane signs.He said he was concerned about a remark made at the December board meeting by member Dorothy Cecchinato, who said that when Vincent Farrell was the crossing guard there, “the job was fine. No more comment.”Caranci said if board members don’t feel there are problems, they should come out to the intersections and see for themselves.He said cars and trucks still go through at up to 60 mph, and he estimated about 80 percent of drivers don’t stop for the stop sign at the railroad crossing over Orchard Street and Route 7. Cecchinato responded that drivers might slow down if Caranci was standing right by the road in his vest and holding his stop sign.“People know what that’s for,” she said.Caranci said he had stood there that morning with a woman who was attempting to cross (he can only cross students).“After about 12 cars that didn’t stop, she gave up,” he said. He also spoke of a student he watched jump over a snowbank up the road and into traffic to cross. He only crosses one student per day now. As the weather warms, he said, there will be more students walking and riding bicycles. Last month, the school board decided not to request the installation of school zone signs with flashing lights, as recommended by the state traffic commission. Since the initial request for signage was initiated by the school board, it would have to pay the $20,000 cost, plus installation.Caranci reminded school board members of the hours they set for him. He is on duty from 8 to 8:30 a.m. and 2:55 to 3:25 p.m.