Selectmen to form committee to study speed
By Naomi Morrison

New Gloucester--After three meetings, the Safety Ad Hoc Committee was able to present to the New Gloucester Board of Selectmen their recommendations as to the most cost effective ways to reduce speeding in their neighborhoods.

Pat O'Brien, member of the Traffic Safety Ad Hoc Committee, said the committee would like to start a public campaign that is supported by enforcement. The public campaign would consist of incorporating a safe driver pledge, having policy input, and educating the community. Law enforcement would include police speed/radar details and implementing a speed board.

To make their plan cost efficient, the committee would like to regionalize their efforts, starting by including Gray. Mr. O'Brien also commented that receiving grant money for some of the items they wish to implement would be easier if more towns were included in the process.

The initiative behind the safe driver pledge is to bring the community together and let others know that going the speed limit is a value. Those who sign the pledge would become "a team of mobile speed bumps," that "uses cars to calm cars," said Mr. O'Brien. The campaign involves getting residents to sign a pledge that states they will go the speed limit to slow the cars down behind them. In addition, they would receive a bumper sticker that says "Save a Life, Go the Limit."

Placing that bumper sticker on the car says, "we're part of a community trying to do something," said Mr. O'Brien.

The committee's efforts are to bring about an awareness of the speed people are driving. "My car affects your neighborhood," Mr. O'Brien said. On the other hand, he said that he doesn't think drivers intentionally break the law and speed.

Traffic Safety Ad Hoc Committee Member John Randall said, "It's the whole pressure from society to go faster."

To help with the prevention, the committee would like several trucking companies, that are known to use the town roads, to be contacted and asked to participate in the program. Mr. Randall commented after the meeting that many of the trucks are running through Gray and New Gloucester to avoid the turnpike tolls.

"[The increased toll is] pushing traffic off the turnpike into our communities," he said.

Speed boards is another item the committee has asked to be used where there are identified hot spots. According to O'Brien, choosing 10 to 15 places will make a significant impact. Gloucester Hill, Mayall Road, Cobbs Bridge Road, Route 100 and Route 231 were mentioned as some of the hot spots.

"Route 100 is like a drag strip," he said after his presentation.

Mr. O'Brien stated that over a 10 years the trend is that an average of 60 additional homes per year are being built in this area and that's at least 600 or more cars on the road. As a citizens group, he said they may be able to help with the prevention by being those mobile speed bumps.

"The police can't do it all," said Mr. O'Brien.

Both Mr. Randall and Mr. O'Brien also stated that going slower is more cost effective for the driver. Not only does the car use less gas, but the overall community would benefit with insurance rates if the town's safety record was better.

The Board of Selectmen voted five-zero to form a Public Safety Committee comprised of seven people that include two Selectmen and someone from the Fire and Rescue Department. This new committee will take the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee and move forward with implementing what they can.

After his presentation, Mr. O'Brien said that studying a study may not be the quickest way to get things done, but at least it's a general consensus that people are thinking the same thing.

Both Cumberland County Manager Peter Crichton and Cumberland County Commissioner Esther Clenott were at the meeting on a different agenda item but stated that they would help the Public Safety Committee in their grant writing process.

Cumberland County Officials present information

The Selectmen had asked Ms. Clenott and Mr. Crichton to attend Monday night's meeting to inform the residents what their New Gloucester county tax dollars are being used for.

A huge chunk of the county budget pays for the jail and the support staff of the district attorney. Other services provided to the county are Merci Management (a hazardous material response company), the probate office, human services, job training, the civic center, tax appeals, state claims, domestic violence department, EMS, water and sewer and the Portland public library. Town Manager Rosemary Kulow also stated that the homeland security grant and emergency weather funds are supported by the county.

Mr. Crichton mentioned that there are many ways municipalities and counties can save money in the future by working together and consolidating services. He used the 911 centers as an example stating that Maine had 48 centers and other states have less than a handful. By combining the 911 centers there would be a $2.7 million annual savings.

"We have to take advantage of the technology that exists," he said.