Columbia board advances planning for speed cameras and reviews DOT options for Route 66–87 intersection

The Columbia Board of Selectmen on July 7 authorized town staff to begin drafting an ordinance and preparing a request for proposals to evaluate automated speed‑enforcement cameras, while also reviewing Connecticut Department of Transportation plans to address congestion at the Route 66–87 intersection.

Chair moved the formal action, saying the town should “authorize the town administrator, prepare an ordinance, work with Scribe on the safety action plan, and put together an RFP to choose a vendor for automatic tracking enforcement safety devices.” Staff told the board an ordinance will be required and that additional steps — adopting a safety action plan, preparing a crash‑data narrative and going out to bid — would be part of the application or procurement process. The board directed staff to gather details about contract length, appeals procedures and vendor responsibilities before any cameras are installed.

Public comment at the meeting was extensive and sharply divided. Supporters said automated enforcement can compensate for limited local policing resources and could generate revenue for traffic safety measures. One resident said, “I think it would pay for itself and then some,” urging the town to use camera revenues for enforcement or a constable. Opponents raised privacy and civil‑rights concerns and questioned whether the town would have adequate appeals and due‑process protections. A critic observed that the law creates civil infractions and warned against assuming guilt without in‑person enforcement: “My concern is more about the right to face your issues,” the speaker said.

Residents and board members also flagged specifics in state guidance and vendor practice: questions included how long images or other data would be retained (one audience member said some parts of the statute appear to allow up to a year of retention for repeat violators), whether vendors would use plate‑reading technology, and the need for a local appeals board. Chair and staff repeatedly emphasized the process would be slow and that the town would return with contract details and an implementation plan: “We’re looking into all that,” staff said. They also told the board that earlier vendor pilots charged municipalities but that current implementations might impose no upfront cost to the town; the board said it would verify vendor terms and staffing obligations.

At the same meeting, staff presented Connecticut DOT traffic analyses for the Route 66–87 intersection. DOT materials, displayed to the board, showed current delays and 25‑year projections. Planners outlined two principal alternatives under consideration: adding left‑turn lanes in both directions, or building a roundabout. Staff summarized DOT projections showing the roundabout produces better long‑term traffic grades in many scenarios but would likely require land acquisition and higher construction costs. Board members and business owners asked about property impacts and sidewalks; one resident urged the planners to include Complete Streets pedestrian accommodations in any design.

The board also handled routine permits and appointments. It approved an Eversource easement required to restore power to a municipal HVAC system, granted a lake‑front permit to install a 5.5-by-6-foot aluminum jet‑ski lift for Eric and Tracy Sodergan at 166 Route 87 (per ELMAC recommendation), reported administrative approval of safety repairs to a private dock, and voted to appoint Beverly Cirillo as an alternate and Rob Hellstrom as a city member to the Horace Porter HVAC building committee. The board approved payments and bills totaling $358,901.46 and later entered executive session, emerging with no action taken before adjourning.

What happens next: staff will return with contract terms, RFP language and more detailed information about appeals procedures, data retention, and town staffing needs if cameras are pursued. For the Route 66–87 work, DOT and town staff said additional public outreach and engineering cost estimates will follow.

Votes at a glance - Motion to authorize the town administrator to draft an ordinance, work with Scribe on a safety action plan, and prepare an RFP for automated speed‑enforcement devices: approved. - Appointments: Beverly Cirillo appointed as HVAC committee alternate; Rob Hellstrom appointed as city member to the Horace Porter HVAC building committee: approved. - Eversource easement execution authorization: approved. - Lake permit (5.5×6 ft jet‑ski lift for Eric and Tracy Sodergan at 166 Route 87): approved (ELMAC recommendation, subject to conditions). - Administrative dock repairs (Henry Beck): reported (administrative approval). - Payments and bills totaling $358,901.46: approved. - Executive session: convened and ended with no action taken.

The meeting packet and materials referenced a housing‑growth statute requiring municipalities to adopt a housing plan for state review and listed recent state grants (totaling $2,547,887) that affected the town’s mill‑rate calculation.