Resident urges town to press police and district engineer over speeding and roadside signs on Route 109

A Brookfield resident told the select board that traffic on Route 109 has become dangerously fast and that multiple real-estate signs are encroaching on the right of way, creating visibility hazards for drivers trying to enter Route 16.

"It used to be that the cars would go 50 or 45. Now they're doing 55 and 60. I've been killed almost three times," the resident said, and later described sending emails to area real-estate firms about the town's sign ordinance.

Select board members said they have raised the speeding concern with the police chief and urged the resident to call the police when incidents occur, providing times and locations to help enforcement. Board members also advised contacting the state district engineer for sign complaints, saying that office has authority to remove signs that violate right-of-way rules.

The resident also noted the town's sign ordinance requires temporary and permanent signs to be set at least 10 feet off the right of way and said several signs she passes daily appear to violate that rule. The board pointed to a road page and contact information on the town website and said staff would follow up.

The exchange concluded with the board asking the public commenter to provide specific incident times to the police and with staff promising to share the district 3 engineer contact information and to check enforcement options.