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| The clock on Main Street, which appears to be popular with birds. |
Showing posts with label Main Street. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Main Street. Show all posts
November 27, 2013
So, like, is somebody supposed to clean this thing?
February 23, 2010
Main Street streetscape to be finished this year
When we look out the window at the new office of The Bristol Press, we see a pretty tired, deadly landscape, including the empty lot across Main Street where the mall once stood.
That's going to change soon.
The city plans to put the long-talked-about streetscape project out to bid in a couple of weeks and to hire a contractor to overhaul Main Street by autumn.
We'll get new walkways, with lots of bricks, pretty lampposts and a few shrubs or something to spruce up the appearance of the historic street. The street itself will be narrower, with bumpouts and designated parking.
At the very least, it should look a lot nicer.
Thanks, taxpayers.
I'll write up the details later in the week. [Update: Here's a link to the story.]
*******
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
That's going to change soon.
The city plans to put the long-talked-about streetscape project out to bid in a couple of weeks and to hire a contractor to overhaul Main Street by autumn.
We'll get new walkways, with lots of bricks, pretty lampposts and a few shrubs or something to spruce up the appearance of the historic street. The street itself will be narrower, with bumpouts and designated parking.
At the very least, it should look a lot nicer.
Thanks, taxpayers.
I'll write up the details later in the week. [Update: Here's a link to the story.]
*******
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 28, 2009
Main Street streetscape project gets green light
A $2 million facelift for Main Street cleared its final obstacle recently and should be done next summer.
The Board of Finance unanimously backed the project recently after eyeing its costs and expressing concern that promised state funding might vanish.
The plan calls for creating new sidewalks, planting trees, adding lights and more in order to make the historic downtown street more attractive and appealing to shoppers and merchants.
Some fiscal overseers said they are worried the state might yank the bulk of the funding in its quest to shave costs as it tries to cope with a budget meltdown.
“It sounds like this is all up in the air,” said Roald Erling, the finance vice chairman.
But Jonathan Rosenthal, the city’s economic development director, said the $1.3 million earmarked for the project by the state “is there. It’s bonded.”
“This is committed money,” Rosenthal said, and won’t vanish.
The project aims to mirror the 2005 overhaul of North Main Street during former Mayor Gerard Couture’s administration, which successfully improved the appearance of the road while calming traffic and making it nicer, and safer, for pedestrians.
Rosenthal said the project is budgeted to cost $2.3 million, but will cost less.
He said the state is paying $1.3 million out of downtown funds the city received years ago. The city will need to spend as much as $500,000 in addition, Rosenthal said.
The plan aims to spruce up the road along the east side from Memorial Boulevard to Center Street and on the west side north of the mall property.
For now, the city is not making changes to the mall site side because of the uncertainty surrounding its possible redevelopment.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The Board of Finance unanimously backed the project recently after eyeing its costs and expressing concern that promised state funding might vanish.
The plan calls for creating new sidewalks, planting trees, adding lights and more in order to make the historic downtown street more attractive and appealing to shoppers and merchants.
Some fiscal overseers said they are worried the state might yank the bulk of the funding in its quest to shave costs as it tries to cope with a budget meltdown.
“It sounds like this is all up in the air,” said Roald Erling, the finance vice chairman.
But Jonathan Rosenthal, the city’s economic development director, said the $1.3 million earmarked for the project by the state “is there. It’s bonded.”
“This is committed money,” Rosenthal said, and won’t vanish.
The project aims to mirror the 2005 overhaul of North Main Street during former Mayor Gerard Couture’s administration, which successfully improved the appearance of the road while calming traffic and making it nicer, and safer, for pedestrians.
Rosenthal said the project is budgeted to cost $2.3 million, but will cost less.
He said the state is paying $1.3 million out of downtown funds the city received years ago. The city will need to spend as much as $500,000 in addition, Rosenthal said.
The plan aims to spruce up the road along the east side from Memorial Boulevard to Center Street and on the west side north of the mall property.
For now, the city is not making changes to the mall site side because of the uncertainty surrounding its possible redevelopment.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
June 5, 2009
Parking pinch on Main Street limits business
A parking crunch along
Business owners and landlords along the historic heart of downtown “are experiencing a parking crisis that directly affects our ability to do business and attract new businesses and tenants,” according to Mark Policki, owner of Bristol Cleaners & Custom Tailoring.
Tom Zipp, a landlord, said the city has “a once-in-a-lifetime” chance to add angled parking on the west side of the street that would go a long way toward easing the parking pinch.
While city officials say they are sympathetic, they have held the line against making any changes until plans for the former downtown mall site are much farther along, effectively blocking any new parking there for at least a few years.
A $1.3 million streetscape improvement project that’s slated to overhaul the look of the road from
Jonathan Rosenthal, the city’s economic development director, said that about eight new spots would be added on the lower section of the streetscape.
“That’s a lot,” Policki said.
But even with better parallel parking along the sides of the road, business owners fear that the crunch will worsen after The Bristol Press moves its offices into a former dance studio this month. [More on this later.]
Zipp, who owns the
For the time being, most of the overflow parking from the area heads for the former mall parking lot between McDonald’s and the railroad bridge across
The city, which owns the site, has no problem with people using the lot, but warns that it might become unavailable whenever a developer is brought in to revitalize the 17-acre former mall property.
Rosenthal said the city is working with the Bristol Downtown Development Corp. to get a study done of the parking situation throughout downtown, which may be the first step toward a future parking garage or other new lots.
Rosenthal said he looked into putting new parking behind Policki’s building, but found it would cost $35,000 per space, which is too high.
Policki said the city has to act.
“Lack of customer and tenant parking is a daily problem for all of us” who have businesses on
He said a concerted effect by the city is required to find ways to create more nearby parking.
“We just need more parking spaces down there,” city Councilor Ken Cockayne said.
The streetscape project, ,which aims to replicate the look of North Main Street’s 2005 project, will add bumpouts, new sidewalks, trees, lights and more to make the section more attractive and inviting. It is slated to get underway in the coming year.
But it’s not meant to add any significant amount of parking.
Mayor Art Ward said that the city has to make sure it’s safe before it can try angled parking on
To add spaces would require the city to build a new lot or to move the west side of
Ward said that any developer of the mall site is going to want ample parking so perhaps it can be part of the package.
Zipp said that angled parking on
Policki said that once the parking situation is addressed, the city will find new businesses seeking to open on
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
February 10, 2009
City backs design work for Main Street improvement
The city is taking the first step toward a possible realignment of High and Summer streets that would require the demolition of at least one decrepit apartment building.
City councilors agreed Tuesday to pay $29,250 to Beta Group, a design firm, to work up plans for fixing the intersection in order to clear up a troubled junction and provide more parking for tenants in the area who have nowhere to leave their cars overnight.
Doing the work “does create some positives,” said Jonathan Rosenthal, the city’s economic development director.
Only one councilor opposed the move, Democrat Craig Minor. The others supported the idea, which has the backing of business and neighborhood groups.
Minor, however, called it “a waste of money” that could be better spent on more pressing issues elsewhere in Bristol.
City Councilor Frank Nicastro, a former mayor, said the proposal has been tossed around for years. He said that doing it would help both the library area and downtown generally.
“It sounds like a solution looking for a problem,” Minor said.
The city already has a design in hand for a $1 million streetscape project that would transform the atmosphere along Main Street from the top of the hill to the Downtown Café.
The plan would copy much of the look of the revamped North Main Street that was done during former Mayor Gerard Couture’s administration, including new lighting, traffic calming, walkways, benches and other pedestrian amenities meant to make the area more appealing to shoppers and merchants.
Rosenthal said he doesn’t know what the intersection realignment will add to the bill, if the city opts to do it.
“We don’t know what it costs until it’s designed,” Rosenthal said.
City officials have long eyed the possibility of razing some of the aging apartments on the west side of Main Street near the library because they have no parking and are so beaten up that they hold little attraction for the young urban professionals the city would like to attract downtown.
Rosenthal said that lining up the roads and knocking down a building or two would allow for the creation of some parking for the remaining buildings while cleaning up some problematic properties.
The Bristol Development Authority, which is overseeing the streetscape work, has already given its blessing to the realignment design.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
March 31, 2008
No angled parking for Main Street ... yet
At least until the mall property is redeveloped, there won’t be any angled parking on Main Street.The Bristol Development Authority recently rejected a plea from downtown merchants to create angled parking as part of a planned streetscape improvement.
Officials decided they should not make any solid plans for the west side of Main Street along the mall property, but indicated that perhaps angled parking can be added there once the 17-acre site is transformed.
In the meantime, though, they decided not to try angled parking on the east side of Main Street between Riverside Avenue and the railroad bridge because of safety and maintenance concerns.With angled parking, there would be room for 13 spaces there, officials said, instead of the six that are possible with parallel parking.
Jonathan Rosenthal, the city’s economic development director, said that either choice would leave a parking deficit that has to be addressed. He said officials have to deal with the larger issue soon.
Mickey Goldwasser, a BDA commissioner who favored the parallel parking idea, said that it’s safer than having people backing out into traffic.
Mayor Art Ward said there is more potential for angled parking on the west side of Main Street.
But Ken Cockayne, a city councilor who serves on the BDA, said that merchants in the area are “really in dire straits” because of the parking crunch created by the closure of the mall site.
“Angled parking there is better” for them, he said, and would double the number of spaces for customers to use.
The BDA voted 5-3 to proceed with parallel parking in the streetscape project that aim to create much the same ambiance on Main Street that a long stretch of North Main Street has had since a streetscape project in 2005 transformed the roadway.
Plans call for brick and architecturally pleasing sidewalks, lighting, granite curbing, benches and other improvements between Riverside Avenue and Center Street, with most of the amenities focused on the area between the Main Library and the Riverside.
Jack Driscoll, a longtime BDA commissioner, said that angled parking on the west side would “probably be less traumatic” for traffic flow.
Public Works Director Walter Veselka said it’s easier to maintain a street with parallel parking given how short a stretch was eyed for angled parking. A long stretch with angled parking would actually be easiest of all, he said.
He said, though, that public works could deal with either choice. It would simply be “a little more labor intensive” to go with angled parking on the east side.
Ward and Rosenthal each said the streetscape project will be done next year.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
January 16, 2008
A pedestrian-friendly Main Street, maybe
A plan to spruce up Main Street with trees, benches and other pedestrian-friendly improvements is taking shape.
Initial plans call for a streetscape improvement that would stretch from the top of the hill to the corner where The Bristol Press is located.
Though Beta Group officials are just beginning to meet with business owners and others to iron out details, the general idea is to spend as much as $1.8 million to replicate the changes made in 2005 along much of North Main Street.
Mickey Goldwasser, a Bristol Development Authority commissioner, said the work “enhances what we’re doing” with the neighboring 17-acre mall site that’s eyed for wholesale redevelopment in the next couple of years.
The initial plan includes small plazas next to the railroad bridge and near the old Bristol Savings Bank, with traffic calming measures along the roadway, new sidewalks, distinctive crosswalks and other features similar to what’s been done on North Main Street.
City councilors recently added $32,000 to the contract with Beta Group to extend the design work from the library up to Center Street.
Officials hope that improving the streetscape will lead to more commercial activity and a safer, friendlier environment for residents, a key element for pumping life into the city’s troubled downtown.
Jonathan Rosenthal, the city’s economic development director, said the design work should be done by spring and implementation of the plan should begin later in the year.
Mayor Art Ward said that the project ties in nicely with the Bristol Downtown Development Corp.’s effort to find a developer willing to build stores, office and housing on the mall property.
Rosenthal said that one of the challenges to the BDA is to address the downtown areas that aren’t covered by the BDDC’s mandate, including parking that’s not on the mall site itself.
“The BDA can play a role” in making the mall site project a success, Rosenthal said.
Ward said he’s glad to see the downtown corporation and the BDA working well together.
Ward and Frank Johnson, president of the BDDC, are meeting Friday with the head of the state's Department of Economic and Community Development.
"That's a crucial first step," Ward said, in showing the state that after a few years of bickering "we're all on board and working in conjunction with one another."
By working together and standing behind a single plan, Ward said, "We'll have more opportunity to determine our future.”
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Initial plans call for a streetscape improvement that would stretch from the top of the hill to the corner where The Bristol Press is located.
Though Beta Group officials are just beginning to meet with business owners and others to iron out details, the general idea is to spend as much as $1.8 million to replicate the changes made in 2005 along much of North Main Street.
Mickey Goldwasser, a Bristol Development Authority commissioner, said the work “enhances what we’re doing” with the neighboring 17-acre mall site that’s eyed for wholesale redevelopment in the next couple of years.
The initial plan includes small plazas next to the railroad bridge and near the old Bristol Savings Bank, with traffic calming measures along the roadway, new sidewalks, distinctive crosswalks and other features similar to what’s been done on North Main Street.
City councilors recently added $32,000 to the contract with Beta Group to extend the design work from the library up to Center Street.
Officials hope that improving the streetscape will lead to more commercial activity and a safer, friendlier environment for residents, a key element for pumping life into the city’s troubled downtown.
Jonathan Rosenthal, the city’s economic development director, said the design work should be done by spring and implementation of the plan should begin later in the year.
Mayor Art Ward said that the project ties in nicely with the Bristol Downtown Development Corp.’s effort to find a developer willing to build stores, office and housing on the mall property.
Rosenthal said that one of the challenges to the BDA is to address the downtown areas that aren’t covered by the BDDC’s mandate, including parking that’s not on the mall site itself.
“The BDA can play a role” in making the mall site project a success, Rosenthal said.
Ward said he’s glad to see the downtown corporation and the BDA working well together.
Ward and Frank Johnson, president of the BDDC, are meeting Friday with the head of the state's Department of Economic and Community Development.
"That's a crucial first step," Ward said, in showing the state that after a few years of bickering "we're all on board and working in conjunction with one another."
By working together and standing behind a single plan, Ward said, "We'll have more opportunity to determine our future.”
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
November 9, 2007
City knocked down oldest house on Main Street today
I have no details, but somehow the city declared the 313 Main St. house unsafe and knocked it down today.That it was done without warning or any publicity at all says an awful lot.
Here's the last story I wrote, from July:
Three years after Plymouth developer Ken Karl scrambled to move the oldest house on Main Street out of harm’s way, the city is increasingly determined to retake possession of the 187-year-old Federal-style home.
Karl’s been working on rehabilitating the 313 Main St. house ever since, making sometimes painfully slow progress.
But City Hall is fed up with the pace – and officials claim they’re ready to force Karl to return the property to city ownership.
“It’s obvious something’s gone astray,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the Real Estate Committee. “No more. The game is over.”
Councilors said they plan to discuss the case in closed-door session soon and then, in all likelihood, to take Karl to court.
“Cut off negotiations,” urged city Councilor Mike Rimcoski, and let the lawyers deal with the situation.
But it’s not clear that the city has much of a case.
Jeff Steeg, an assistant city attorney, said the council has already authorized litigation against Karl.
But, he said, the question is “exactly what did he do?”
Steeg said that Karl “clearly” breached the contract he had with the city by taking longer to complete the work than promised when he bought the house for $1 in order to get it out of the way so the $12 million library expansion could begin.
The remedy for Karl’s delay is uncertain. It’s not at all obvious that a judge would order him to sell the house back to the city, nor is anyone sure how much the city would need to pay.
Steeg said that if Karl sells the property for commercial use, the city will get back the value of the property. But beyond that, the legal situation is murky.
Nicasto said, though, that it is “ridiculous” that the issue has been pending for more than three years, with councilors pushing for Karl to finish renovating the property or return it to the city.
He said that he would like an executive session at August’s council meeting where officials can hash out the proper course of action.
“I want a decision made when we come out of that executive session,” Nicastro said.
Rimcoski said he was told two years ago the matter would be dealt with “in a few days” but it’s still dragging on.
Karl has said that he can’t understand why city leaders are so focused on him when there are far worse problems all over town.
He said that since he took the house, its assessed value has shot from $22,000 to $88,000 and he’s paying $1,800 a year in taxes that the city wouldn’t otherwise get.
The house, which Karl moved from the east to the west side of Main Street, was likely built by an early clockmaker. It has been the home of many prominent Bristol residents, including 19th century notables Titus Roberts, Elisha Brewster, Joseph Camp, David Hawley and Dr. Roswell Hawley and his widow Jane Hawley.More recently, noted area artist Glo Sessions lived there growing up.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Here's the last story I wrote, from July:
Three years after Plymouth developer Ken Karl scrambled to move the oldest house on Main Street out of harm’s way, the city is increasingly determined to retake possession of the 187-year-old Federal-style home.
Karl’s been working on rehabilitating the 313 Main St. house ever since, making sometimes painfully slow progress.
But City Hall is fed up with the pace – and officials claim they’re ready to force Karl to return the property to city ownership.
“It’s obvious something’s gone astray,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, who heads the Real Estate Committee. “No more. The game is over.”
Councilors said they plan to discuss the case in closed-door session soon and then, in all likelihood, to take Karl to court.
“Cut off negotiations,” urged city Councilor Mike Rimcoski, and let the lawyers deal with the situation.
But it’s not clear that the city has much of a case.
Jeff Steeg, an assistant city attorney, said the council has already authorized litigation against Karl.
But, he said, the question is “exactly what did he do?”
Steeg said that Karl “clearly” breached the contract he had with the city by taking longer to complete the work than promised when he bought the house for $1 in order to get it out of the way so the $12 million library expansion could begin.
The remedy for Karl’s delay is uncertain. It’s not at all obvious that a judge would order him to sell the house back to the city, nor is anyone sure how much the city would need to pay.
Steeg said that if Karl sells the property for commercial use, the city will get back the value of the property. But beyond that, the legal situation is murky.
Nicasto said, though, that it is “ridiculous” that the issue has been pending for more than three years, with councilors pushing for Karl to finish renovating the property or return it to the city.
He said that he would like an executive session at August’s council meeting where officials can hash out the proper course of action.
“I want a decision made when we come out of that executive session,” Nicastro said.
Rimcoski said he was told two years ago the matter would be dealt with “in a few days” but it’s still dragging on.
Karl has said that he can’t understand why city leaders are so focused on him when there are far worse problems all over town.
He said that since he took the house, its assessed value has shot from $22,000 to $88,000 and he’s paying $1,800 a year in taxes that the city wouldn’t otherwise get.
The house, which Karl moved from the east to the west side of Main Street, was likely built by an early clockmaker. It has been the home of many prominent Bristol residents, including 19th century notables Titus Roberts, Elisha Brewster, Joseph Camp, David Hawley and Dr. Roswell Hawley and his widow Jane Hawley.More recently, noted area artist Glo Sessions lived there growing up.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
June 22, 2007
Minutes for Federal Hill revitalization committee
Neighborhood Revitalization Committee Meeting Minutes from May 30,2007
Attendees: David Fortier, Detective Bill Kenney, Francine Petosa, Jessica Dumont, Bonnie Lodovico, Debie Alos, Susan Roesch, Pat Marchand, Ken Hicks, Mark Federchuck, Michelle Curry, Ed D’Amato, Olare Swe’va, Councilperson Craig Minor
Call to Meeting: Meeting was called to order by Library Board Chair David Fortier at 5:35PM
New Business
Opened the meeting with talk led by Pat Marchand of the Bristol Garden Club. Ms. Marchand provided practical advice on urban landscape improvements. Some suggestions were for container planting and perennial planting suggestions. One notable suggestion for possible future neighborhood event is a “plant swap” whereby neighbors swap perennial plantings when they thin-out their garden beds. Ms. Marchand finished the talk with a question/answer period.
Reports
Report from Councilperson Minor was given on the status of the Main Street streetscape proposal. He reported that the Board of Finance approved the funding for the design of a new streetscape. He added that this is a very hopeful sign that the actual work will be approved eventually. The plan as it stands will only reach up Main St. as far as the library. A discussion ensued on the possibility of requesting approval for a design that would include the remainder of Main up to Center St. Chairman Dave Fortier offered to write a letter to request consideration for such a plan. It was suggested to Sue Roesch that The Federal Hill Association may also send a letter. PC Tech owner, Ken Hicks, asked about angle parking and plans for community parking of some type to encourage people to use the Main St. businesses. He was told by Councilperson Minor that parking would be in the plan but angle parking may not be feasible given the width of the street.
Old Business
267-269 Main St. property and HUD status was discussed. Jessica Dumont provided a link to Multi-Family Clearing House at http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/hc/mfhc.cfm as suggested by Noel Miller at HUD’s legal department. Mr. Swe’va, the manager of the property, was in attendance and offered that he and the owners continue to work on improving the property and cooperating with the Bristol Police Department.
Police call procedures were discussed. Ken Hicks relayed a good response to a call into the police department. Michelle Curry reported a disappointing response to a suspected break-in of her car. Detective Kenney spoke with the group on calling back into the police department when you do not get an initial response. He reiterated Captain McIntyre’s advice to ask for the shift manager if it does not appear that your complaint is not responded to in a timely manner.
Chamber’s Clean-Up Day was discussed. Sue Roesch reported a response of 12-13 people, most of whom were Federal Hill Association members. She further reported that the brick building at 165 Riverside Ave had the largest problem with litter. Ocean State Job Lot and McDonald’s have both appeared to have improved their efforts to keep their properties/parking lots litter free. David Fortier offered to send them a thank-you in recognition of responsible property upkeep.
City of Bristol garbage cans request was discussed. Jessica Dumont enquired of Sue Roesch the addresses where there might be the greatest need. Sue responded that the convenience store on High Street was a good candidate for the garbage can request, pending owner agreement. She will report back with owner response. Jessica Dumont agreed to write the letter to the Public Works requesting a garbage can for that corner and for the corner of the 165 Riverside Ave property.
The status of the missing fence panel located on Bristol Public Library property bordering the property directly behind the library. Dave Fortier reported that this issue had been referred to the Property Committee of the Library Board for consideration.
Any other matters
Litter prevention signs were discussed. The merits of a reminder sign as opposed to a sign warning of fines were discussed. Detective Bill Kenney said that those signs would have to be requested from the Public Works not the Police Department. Det. Kenney also made the interesting suggestion of “Adopt a Neighborhood” idea. Perhaps a more positive and more effective way to get residents to treat the downtown area with respect.
Captain McIntyre reiterated the police department’s commitment to public safety. He went on to outline the importance of giving the police detailed information on any suspect persons, if possible, to keep the dispatcher on the line until police arrive.
Police bike patrols are scheduled to begin in May.
Next meeting is scheduled for June 27, 2007 at 5:30
Meeting was adjourned at 6:30
*******
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Attendees: David Fortier, Detective Bill Kenney, Francine Petosa, Jessica Dumont, Bonnie Lodovico, Debie Alos, Susan Roesch, Pat Marchand, Ken Hicks, Mark Federchuck, Michelle Curry, Ed D’Amato, Olare Swe’va, Councilperson Craig Minor
Call to Meeting: Meeting was called to order by Library Board Chair David Fortier at 5:35PM
New Business
Opened the meeting with talk led by Pat Marchand of the Bristol Garden Club. Ms. Marchand provided practical advice on urban landscape improvements. Some suggestions were for container planting and perennial planting suggestions. One notable suggestion for possible future neighborhood event is a “plant swap” whereby neighbors swap perennial plantings when they thin-out their garden beds. Ms. Marchand finished the talk with a question/answer period.
Reports
Report from Councilperson Minor was given on the status of the Main Street streetscape proposal. He reported that the Board of Finance approved the funding for the design of a new streetscape. He added that this is a very hopeful sign that the actual work will be approved eventually. The plan as it stands will only reach up Main St. as far as the library. A discussion ensued on the possibility of requesting approval for a design that would include the remainder of Main up to Center St. Chairman Dave Fortier offered to write a letter to request consideration for such a plan. It was suggested to Sue Roesch that The Federal Hill Association may also send a letter. PC Tech owner, Ken Hicks, asked about angle parking and plans for community parking of some type to encourage people to use the Main St. businesses. He was told by Councilperson Minor that parking would be in the plan but angle parking may not be feasible given the width of the street.
Old Business
267-269 Main St. property and HUD status was discussed. Jessica Dumont provided a link to Multi-Family Clearing House at http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/hc/mfhc.cfm as suggested by Noel Miller at HUD’s legal department. Mr. Swe’va, the manager of the property, was in attendance and offered that he and the owners continue to work on improving the property and cooperating with the Bristol Police Department.
Police call procedures were discussed. Ken Hicks relayed a good response to a call into the police department. Michelle Curry reported a disappointing response to a suspected break-in of her car. Detective Kenney spoke with the group on calling back into the police department when you do not get an initial response. He reiterated Captain McIntyre’s advice to ask for the shift manager if it does not appear that your complaint is not responded to in a timely manner.
Chamber’s Clean-Up Day was discussed. Sue Roesch reported a response of 12-13 people, most of whom were Federal Hill Association members. She further reported that the brick building at 165 Riverside Ave had the largest problem with litter. Ocean State Job Lot and McDonald’s have both appeared to have improved their efforts to keep their properties/parking lots litter free. David Fortier offered to send them a thank-you in recognition of responsible property upkeep.
City of Bristol garbage cans request was discussed. Jessica Dumont enquired of Sue Roesch the addresses where there might be the greatest need. Sue responded that the convenience store on High Street was a good candidate for the garbage can request, pending owner agreement. She will report back with owner response. Jessica Dumont agreed to write the letter to the Public Works requesting a garbage can for that corner and for the corner of the 165 Riverside Ave property.
The status of the missing fence panel located on Bristol Public Library property bordering the property directly behind the library. Dave Fortier reported that this issue had been referred to the Property Committee of the Library Board for consideration.
Any other matters
Litter prevention signs were discussed. The merits of a reminder sign as opposed to a sign warning of fines were discussed. Detective Bill Kenney said that those signs would have to be requested from the Public Works not the Police Department. Det. Kenney also made the interesting suggestion of “Adopt a Neighborhood” idea. Perhaps a more positive and more effective way to get residents to treat the downtown area with respect.
Captain McIntyre reiterated the police department’s commitment to public safety. He went on to outline the importance of giving the police detailed information on any suspect persons, if possible, to keep the dispatcher on the line until police arrive.
Police bike patrols are scheduled to begin in May.
Next meeting is scheduled for June 27, 2007 at 5:30
Meeting was adjourned at 6:30
*******
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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