Harrison ratifies school-zone speed amendment after resident concerns about timing

The village board ratified changes to village code chapter 38-42 to create a designated school-zone speed area on parts of Union Avenue and across other public-school locations.

At the Feb. 5 public hearing Joan Arasich, a resident, said the code already lists a 15 mph limit for part of Union Avenue but questioned the change and, in particular, the posted enforcement times.

"It's from 7 to 4PM?" Arasich asked, saying many high-school activities run past 6 p.m. and that younger drivers frequently use the corridor in the evening. The board’s public-safety representatives said timing was within the county-engineering guidance and could be reviewed.

Lieutenant Gentile (Harrison Police Department) told the board that the engineering department had ordered new signs as part of a sidewalk project and that timing is not stipulated in the text of the law; officers can perform targeted enforcement and data collection where residents report problems.

The board voted to ratify the amended code; members said they would ask engineering staff to review posted sign timing and consider limited enforcement or data-collection checks during after-school hours if complaints continue.

The ratification was procedural: the board opened the hearing, heard public comment, and then moved to ratify village code 30-842 (vehicle and traffic) as amended.