Task Force approves draft policy discouraging speed bumps, forwards it to DPW and Select Board

The Road Safety Task Force voted to send a draft policy on vertical traffic calming devices — drafted by committee members to discourage installation of speed bumps and similar devices — to the town administrator and the Department of Public Works for review and comment.

Bruce Bennett (S7), a House Street resident, opened the Old Business discussion by identifying himself and urging restoration of a seasonal speed control device in front of his house, saying the prior device “was very effective in slowing down the traffic” and that he would be “willing to bear personally” some of the cost to restore a temporary device. The task force acknowledged his safety concerns but noted the DPW and engineering have raised objections and the committee is drafting a townwide policy.

Vice Chair (S2) read the draft policy’s rationale aloud and listed the committee’s stated concerns: “emergency response impacts… it requires emergency vehicles to reduce speed significantly, increases wear and safety risk,” hazards to motorcycles and bicycles, winter maintenance conflicts and neighborhood noise and liability risks. Members debated whether the draft should use the term “speed bump” or a broader term such as “vertical traffic calming devices” or “speed humps,” and discussed whether procedural detail belongs in the task force draft or should be fleshed out later by DPW and legal review.

After discussion the task force voted to accept Connie’s draft for circulation and to forward it to the town administrator (to be reviewed by DPW and legal counsel), with the committee co‑chairs to sign and circulate internally first. The motion was reported as passing 4–0.

Next steps: the task force will circulate the draft internally, then send it to the town administrator and the DPW head (Mike Ladd) for review and revision; the Select Board and legal counsel may make further changes.