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Residents urge action on Spruce Street speeding and flag programs; board affirms Memorial Day parade will continue
Summary
Multiple public commenters told the board about speeding near school crossings and called for traffic calming on Spruce Street; the board and several speakers also emphasized preserving the Memorial Day parade and volunteer banner programs.
Residents at the May 5 Town of Manchester Board of Directors meeting raised safety concerns about vehicle speeds and driver behavior on Spruce Street and nearby intersections, pressing the board to pursue enforcement or traffic‑calming measures.
Richard Zaremba, a crossing guard who volunteers at Spruce and Florence, described frequent speeding, tailgating and dangerous approaches that leave him only three to four feet from passing vehicles: "The speed limit is 20 to 25 miles per hour and the vast majority of cars are doing 45 to 50," he said, and urged installation of speed bumps or additional police presence.
Other crossing guards and residents corroborated near-miss incidents and recounted violent reactions from drivers. Board members said they would raise the pedestrian‑safety concerns with police and town staff; the town manager noted some traffic-safety measures involve state control and coordination with Connecticut Department of Transportation.
On veterans issues, multiple speakers including Andy Raganas and Sherry Guimond outlined the scale of volunteer effort behind the Memorial Day parade and veteran banner program — flagging more than 6,800 graves and organizing dozens of volunteers — and urged the board not to eliminate parade funding. Board members repeatedly assured speakers the parade will continue and voiced support for volunteers and the banner program.
Next steps: board members asked staff and public-safety officials to review crossing-guard safety and potential traffic-calming options and to consult state partners where traffic signal timing or other state-managed controls are involved. The board reaffirmed its support for the Memorial Day parade and encouraged citizen participation in the banner event.
