FOCUS - Friends of Concord / United South End

Meeting Notes January 15, 2003

Jan 23, 2003

FOCUS Meeting
January 15, 2003

A FOCUS meeting was held on January 15, 2003 in the offices of 20/20 at 72 North Main Street. This neighborhood resident organization had convened at a meeting on January 3, 2003. A regular meeting schedule for the near future had been determined and a general invitation to meetings was issued to residents of the South End. City officials were also invited to attend regular meetings of FOCUS. The organization would work with City officials and others to address traffic, pedestrian and other quality of life and development issues in the South End.

Present at the meeting were the following persons:

Charlie Bauer, Amy Currie, Judy Dickinson, Heidi Douglas, Ruth Engel, Steve Finch, Carol Hargrove, Eric Halter, Roger Hawk (City of Concord), Randy Raymond, Kathleen Sciarappa (Conant School) and Mike Tardiff.

Conant School Kathleen Sciarappa, Principal of Conant School, was introduced to the group. She explained she had another commitment and would have to leave early.
Discussion ensued on neighborhood issues related to Conant School. These focused on student safety and traffic matters. Ms. Sciarappa indicated she welcomed the formation of FOCUS and while the school PTSO and the 20/20 organization had been addressing these issues, she felt support of a neighborhood organization for solutions was helpful. The matter of student ?“drop off?” and ?“pick up?” was of concern because it meant young pedestrians and automobiles were often in unsafe conflict. A safe area and orderly process for these times is clearly desired. The group was advised that while some safety features might be added on South Street ?– as represented in the 20/20 concept sketch in the meeting room ?– total site circulation was a problem. R. Hawk informed the group that the site was under the jurisdiction of the Concord School District. K. Sciarappa noted that physical matters on the site were an administrative responsibility of Bob Munson in the Superintendent?’s office. Discussion about a meeting with Mr. Munson ensued, but it was felt that FOCUS should further its identification of, and understanding of, problems around the school before seeking a meeting with Mr. Munson.

South End Boundaries C. Bauer presented a list of discussion topics for the meeting. The initial item was a delineation of boundaries of the South End. It was agreed that this would be flexible depending on matters address, but it would generally be involved with an area south of West Street, east of Iron Works Road, north of the Bow town line and west of Merrimack River. The opinions on perimeter of the neighborhood were varied. R. Raymond advised he would prepare a map showing Ward boundaries, Conant School district boundaries and a city planning definition. These will be presented at a later meeting to attempt consensus on the geographic area of primary interest to FOCUS.

FOCUS Letter to City Council C. Bauer reported the letter sent on to the City Council behalf of FOCUS regarding street paving deferral had been received and referred to the City Community development Department. R. Hawk, Director of the Department was present and advised that a report would be presented to the City Council in response to the FOCUS letter and includes general recommendations for reviewing repaving plans and traffic calming measures with the neighborhood. He indicated that the 20/20 organization had been asked to seek technical assistance for a collaborative planning effort with FOCUS; it was his understanding that a RFP would be distributed so that 20/20 would be able to assist in a collaborative program that would be completed in time for a spring/summer repaving program.

Traffic Calming R. Hawk described the City?’s current approach to traffic calming measures. He felt understanding of this term and its techniques for quieting and minimizing traffic conflicts in residential areas was more widespread among City staff and City Council members than it had been in the past. He reported City staff measures to review and evaluate traffic calming techniques in the Rumford School neighborhood; he anticipated a visit by key public works and engineering staff to Cambridge, MA to assess traffic calming in the urban community. Following this, it is expected that a proposal will be presented to the City Council for an initial project. This report should be sent to the Council for its February 10 meeting. He stated his goal would be to have a city street improvement/paving process that would encompass the elements of concern to FOCUS (i.e., sidewalks, utilities, paving, traffic calming and tree scape) in a coordinated fashion. Discussion of Broadway as a location for traffic calming techniques followed. Pros and cons of a center median with landscaping were considered. Complexities of McKee Square were also discussed; it was noted that traffic calming in the square would require more study, with review of effects on nearby streets. R. Hawk also reported that City staff had been developing unit costs for certain traffic calming measures ?– some of which he illustrated with sketches. This cost information would enable the City Council to understand what might be possible within present budget limitations.

Other Matters It was apparent that other items which had been on the agenda for the meeting would not be covered, but C. Bauer mentioned publicity that had been provided in the Sunday Concord Monitor. He also reported that the fire and police departments had been advised of the FOCUS organization and of neighborhood issues that might be addressed by the group. He asked that members of the group continue to consider so called ?“hot Spots?” of traffic problems and ?“help spots?” for beautification and enhancement. These would be the subject of the next FOCUS meeting.

Next Meeting: The group will meet next on Wednesday, January 22, at 7:00 PM at 72 North Main Street.