Residents urge action on summer speeding, e‑bikes and fireworks on Turner Road

Residents from Turner Road and nearby blocks told the Select Board on July 7 that summer traffic and late‑night fireworks have made parts of the neighborhood difficult to sleep in and raised safety concerns.

Several residents — including Matthew Sbagdis, Joanne Wyckoff and Carol Sullivan Hamley — described repeated late‑night driving, an incident in late June in which a possum was killed after vehicles sped through the neighborhood, and frequent fireworks close to houses. Hamley said she has nearly been struck while walking her dog and described long‑standing frustration with what she called inconsistent signage and enforcement. Linda Murphy and others urged better outreach to property owners who rent homes and recommended signs and random enforcement to deter illegal fireworks late at night.

The board acknowledged the problem and said staff would follow up with the police department and public works on potential short‑term measures such as temporary signage and speed-monitoring. The Select Board noted that the town’s noise rules are enforced after 10 p.m. and encouraged residents to report violations so police can respond. No formal vote or ordinance change was proposed at the meeting; residents were told the board would pursue follow‑up steps and communication with the police chief and fire chief who had briefed the board before July 4.