Lights could help make crosswalk safer

SALISBURY — First Selectman Curtis Rand said the town can go ahead and get flashing lights at the major crosswalk in Salisbury village. Rand made his remarks at the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Selectmen on Monday, Oct. 7.

It was just Rand and Selectman Chris Williams. Selectman Don Mayland did not attend.

Rand said the reason the state Department of Transportation (DOT) told him flashing or blinking lights, similar to those installed at other crosswalks in town, couldn’t be installed in Salisbury had to do with legal issues concerning patents.

Apparently that has been resolved.

Rand said it will be necessary to hire an engineering firm to determine which kind of flashing light is appropriate for the Main Street crosswalk in Salisbury.

During a freewheeling discussion including Resident State Trooper Chris Sorrell, Tom and Harriet Schachtman and Pat Hackett, other measures were discussed, including adding more crosswalks and pressuring the DOT to lower the speed limit from 30 miles per hour to 25 or even 20.

The selectmen heard from Lakeville Hose Company Chief Bob Smith, who said the volunteer fire department is experiencing an increasing number of false alarms.

The primary problem is that part-time residents do not make keys available to emergency personnel.

“I’d like to see a plan to force the issue,” Smith said, such as fines, or mandatory yearly inspections and maintenance of home security systems.

In addition to the large number of false alarms — Smith said of some 300 calls per year, 60% are false alarms — responding to them means not being able to respond as quickly to real emergencies. Smith said there was a situation last week with a false alarm around 10 a.m., and while the Hose Company was busy with that, there was a car accident on the other side of town.

There will be a town meeting Wednesday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m. to consider approving an updated Local Capital Improvement Program (LOCIP) plan.

The selectmen approved a recommendation from the Affordable Housing Commission to transfer $10,000 from funds earmarked for affordable housing to the Salisbury Housing Trust for a property at 5 Fowler St.

They also appointed Raydin Neary and Jon Russillo to the Recreation Commission for six-year terms.