Stop And Go: Traffic Signs Spark Debate In Harrison

After a long and busy Village Board meeting Thursday evening, who would have thought that the final three requests on the agenda would have stirred up so much controversy.

What began as a request from Chief of Police Anthony Marraccini for approval to install a stop sign on White Street heading westbound at the intersection of Ellsworth Avenue erupted into a fierce debate over safety, logistics and questioning of why taxpayer money should go into the signage.

“Of it were up to me, I would have a stop sign on every residential corner in town,” declared Trustee Joe Cannella as he attempted to respond to questions about if there is any connection in hard data to the amount of stop signs in a neighborhood and the affect it has on safety.

One woman asked if “stop signs were for sale in Harrison?” referring to the large amounts of stop signs she felt dotted the Town. Other concerns that arose from the debate were the increase in noise that stop signs create as now cars are forced to brake and accelerate excessively in residential neighborhoods.

Also do the signs disrupt what should be the natural flow of traffic on the streets? Even factors such as pollution and the extra carbon monoxide that is emitted by the cars having to re-accelerate was brought to the board’s attention.

In the end, the board approved the measure installing a new stop sign on White Street. However, the installation of stop signs at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Drive heading southbound toward Harrison Boulevard and also Lake Street traveling northbound to Harrison Boulevard were tabled until the executive session so a vote could be made.

Here is a look at some other news from the Harrison Village Board meeting:

Emergency purchase of two air conditioning units for the Municipal Building

A request was made by the Commissioner of Public Works Anthony Robinson for authorization to at a cost that would not exceed $78,500. For a large part of the summer, the building has experience major malfunctions with the old unit and the purchase will replace the older units with new ones.

Bond Resolution tabled to Executive Session

The board seemed slightly divided on a request for an approval for a Bond Resolution authorizing the infrastructure improvements in connection with the Old Orchard Subdivision which would cost  $1,340,000. This amount would cover the cost of general contracting, construction administration, monitoring, quality assurance and site surveying.

Councilwoman Marlane Amelio voted to defer and was most vocal in opposition for the expenditure, saying that, “this is a very speculative venture and I do not think the tax payers should bare the cost during these economic times."

The request will be brought during the Executive Session.

The next Town Board Meeting will take place on Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m.