Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Events And Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Uxbridge committee approves Town Common use, reviews bike tour route and July 4 plans; flags drone and traffic safety issues
Summary
The committee approved a non‑exclusive Town Common permit and discussed safety details for a June bike tour and the July 4 fireworks celebration, including police details and concerns about drones over crowds. Committee asked staff to gather speed data for a West Street signage request and to notify a parish about Church Street parking problems.
The Uxbridge Public Safety Committee approved a non‑exclusive use request for the Town Common submitted by Tina Ryan and reviewed a slate of public‑safety items and festival logistics.
A motion to approve Tina Ryan’s Town Common request was made, seconded and approved by the committee. Committee members said permit logistics (trash, police detail and site cleanup) will be finalized by staff via email.
The committee examined a 30‑mile route for the 40th annual Valley Friendship bike tour set for June 7. Staff noted crossings at Mendon Street, Millville Road and Quaker Highway and said organizers indicated they will hire police detail. The committee asked police to confirm the number of officers and to coordinate traffic safety with the event contact.
Travis, the event organizer, outlined plans for the town’s July fireworks event and asked the panel to confirm trash, tower lights and on‑site staffing. He told the committee, “This year's event is being held on Saturday, July 12 with a rain date of July 13.” Police staff raised safety concerns about unauthorized drones over crowds, noting past incidents and the difficulty of identifying individual operators; committee members said they will work with police to distinguish registered professional aerial operations from hobby flights and to adjust crowd‑control measures accordingly.
On signage and neighborhood safety, the committee reviewed a resident request for children‑at‑play signage near 720 West Street. Public Works recommended using a portable speed sign to collect data and then consider a formal speed‑limit process if warranted. For Church Street, staff described heavy parking during services at a local Coptic parish that blocks travel lanes and can impede emergency vehicles; the committee opted to send a notice to parish leadership requesting that parishioners avoid parking on Church Street rather than begin targeted enforcement.
A private request to place a flagpole in the center of a private Farmstead Lane cul‑de‑sac to honor a veteran drew no public‑safety objection; staff asked the owner to notify planning in case the planting or turnaround configuration requires review.
Police and event staff will finalize details for the July fireworks, including officer assignments and exit lighting; staff will report back as plans are refined.
