Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Traffic Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select Board weighs fixes after truck parking returns near Amazon facility on Bartlett Street
Summary
Police and DPW described recurring tractor-trailer parking along Bartlett Street near the Amazon facility; Amazon has ordered signage and the town will re-install no-parking signs, consider temporary physical barriers and coordinate enforcement with the company.
Police, DPW and the Select Board spent a portion of their Dec. 15 meeting addressing renewed tractor-trailer parking along Bartlett Street, a long-running issue near the Amazon distribution facility.
Chief Griffin and Public Works Director Scott Charpentier explained that a town bylaw already prohibits parking on Bartlett Street but many no-parking posts and signs had been damaged or removed, which reduced enforceability. Police officers reported they regularly knock on drivers’ windows to move vehicles and log repeat offenders; most first-time encounters result in a warning rather than a ticket.
The town met with Amazon representatives, who agreed to provide and install new signage for the problem locations and a large directional sign to redirect trucks. DPW also proposed a low-cost, temporary measure—placing large logs on the shoulder at recurring problem spots—to block tractor parking while keeping the shoulder clear of plow operations and meeting federal roadway clearance standards. DPW said the logs would be placed about five feet off the pavement and marked with a short reflector post.
Chief Griffin said the town will log citations and forward repeat-offender information to Amazon’s facility manager, who said Amazon has internal driver-discipline measures. The board discussed options to avoid displacing truck parking into residential neighborhoods and raised the idea of a targeted bylaw or higher fines for commercial vehicles; staff said changing fine amounts or creating a commercial-only no-parking offense would require a bylaw change or further legal review.
Resident commenters said the situation creates safety and nuisance concerns, especially during peak holiday pick-up times. The Select Board asked staff to monitor the signage installations after the holidays, evaluate whether physical barriers are needed in specific locations, and report back on enforcement numbers and lease/landlord responsibilities if the problem persists.
