Trustees approve traffic and safety measures; residents press for sidewalks, parking and garbage enforcement

At its Feb. 10 meeting the Board of Trustees approved a package of traffic-commission recommendations and moved forward on multiple operational budget items while hearing residents press for sidewalk installation, stronger garbage enforcement and changes to outdoor dining rules.

Traffic and pedestrian measures The board approved recommendations from the traffic commission that include installing no-right-on-red signs at Halsted Avenue approaches to Mamaroneck Avenue, creating or extending school speed zones (with a 15 mph speed limit) on Gertrude and Elliot avenues and adding North Berry Avenue to the village code's school-zone list. A trustee noted staff had already reviewed the items before the meeting.

Budget and operational actions Trustees approved a $55,000 budget amendment to purchase roughly 700 tons of road salt after staff explained unusually high winter usage and contract guarantee dynamics that push up per-ton costs once allotted amounts are exceeded. The board also approved an annual budget amendment to install GPS tracking on village vehicles to inform fleet sizing, insurance and procurement decisions, and approved several budget transfers to cover deficit lines (parks equipment, employee-benefit costs, and conference-room upgrades). The abstract of audited vouchers totaling $2,568,144.36 was approved as well.

Public comments and resident priorities Resident Abby Roberts urged the board to issue an RFP and move quickly on a shovel-ready sidewalk project for Old Post Road, highlighting a 2019 DOT count of about 1,500 vehicles and safety risks for children walking to school. "This is something you can do by spring — it's an easy win," she said.

Other residents pressed for stronger enforcement of garbage rules on the avenue and raised parking and outdoor-dining concerns. "We need enforcement," Victoria Feta said, calling for fines and clearer commercial-vs-residential enforcement where private haulers service some businesses. Resident representatives from the traffic commission and neighborhood associations urged shuttle solutions and revised parking management to address downtown congestion.

Votes at a glance - Salt purchase budget amendment ($55,000 for approximately 700 tons): approved by voice vote. - GPS budget amendment for fleet tracking: approved. - Traffic commission package (no-right-on-red signs, school-zone reductions to 15 mph, curb extensions): approved.

What happens next Staff will draft ordinances or code amendments and return with home-rule requests where necessary (for speed-camera authority) and a procurement plan for salt and vehicle tracking. The board asked staff to follow up on enforcement options for downtown garbage and to propose adjustments to the outdoor-dining footprint.

Provenance This article is based on meeting discussion and public comments recorded in transcript segments SEG 491–SEG 515, SEG 514–SEG 634 (Old Post Road comment), SEG 639–SEG 783 (salt discussion and motion), SEG 918–SEG 1020 (traffic resolutions) and SEG 1859–SEG 1980 (garbage enforcement comments).