Residents urge stronger enforcement, road design after pedestrian crashes; council outlines advisory committee role

Several residents at a Frenchtown Borough Council meeting recounted near-misses and a child struck at local intersections and urged the council to press for stronger enforcement and road design changes.

Dan Fisher, who said he has lived in Frenchtown since 1967, told the council he is concerned about speeding and heavy trucks in town and urged consideration of shared police services with neighboring jurisdictions for more consistent coverage. “We need more coverage in town,” Fisher said, and he suggested the borough consider shared services with Holland Township.

Another resident, who gave a detailed account of a child struck at Harrison and Second Street, said police did not issue a summons despite what she described as clear evidence and called for enforcement consistent with New Jersey law. “The law was on my side that it was ignored,” she said, referencing the statutory obligation that drivers stop for pedestrians.

Marvin Somerovia said his wife was struck while wearing a bright orange hat, and he asked the police department to amend its report and to explain why a summons was not issued. He cited research favoring enforcement and redesigned crossings, adding that raised crosswalks and better visibility reduce crashes.

Residents also pushed the council for clearer transparency about the Traffic & Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee's work. A member of the public asked why committee meetings are not open and whether minutes are posted. A staff member responded that the advisory committee is not a statutory body covered by the Open Public Meetings Act in the same way as the governing body; the staff member explained that the law exempts informal advisory bodies that have no effective authority and cited the committee's enabling resolution and composition, including the public safety director (or designee), mayor, council president, DPW liaison and three mayor-appointed residents.

Council leaders said they are pursuing multiple safety improvements. The chair recapped that the borough has secured grant funding for enhanced pedestrian crosswalks on Kingwood Avenue, including push-button flashing lights, and sidewalk connectivity at Ward Street. The council also said it has speed-tracking devices on major roads entering town and earlier deployed radar speed displays.

Why it matters: Residents urged more enforcement and design changes after accounts of injury and repeated close calls. Council members said engineering work and grant-funded safety features are lined up but acknowledged enforcement constraints and that some improvements depend on state approvals or external grants.

The meeting moved next to routine agenda items; the council authorized bidding for the Ward Street improvement project and approved several consent items.