The commission tackled several pressing traffic safety concerns, prominently featuring discussions on Charger Street’s cut-through traffic issues. Julie Dearo from the Department of Planning and Community Development introduced a petition concerning this street, highlighting the problems faced by residents due to increased traffic, particularly near Squire Road. The commission agreed on the necessity of conducting a week-long traffic study to gather data, with a focus on both ends of the street. The commission plans to reconvene with the study’s findings to explore potential solutions, which could include engineering interventions like sidewalks and narrowing roadways to manage traffic flow effectively.

Another topic was the proposal to amend parking regulations on Wilson Street by establishing a no-parking designation on its easterly side. This change sought to rectify existing parking issues that residents had raised, particularly concerning double-sided parking’s impact on trash collection and school bus access. The narrowness of Wilson Street was a concern, and aligning its regulations with those of adjacent streets, which already had similar restrictions, was deemed necessary. After a discussion, the amendment was approved.

The meeting also addressed mounting safety concerns on Mount Naval, especially near Adams Street, where excessive speeding was reported. A proposal to introduce a speed bump and a stop sign at Broadway was moved forward to a public hearing.

Additionally, the commission deliberated on several amendments related to handicap parking. It approved changes for specific addresses, including the addition of a designated spot on Florence Avenue and the removal of signs at multiple locations. These decisions were part of ongoing efforts to optimize parking for residents with particular needs while considering community feedback on congestion and accessibility.

A significant proposal involved introducing permit parking on Green Street to accommodate residents during the construction of a new building. This request aimed to allow 24-hour, 7-day-a-week parking. However, concerns about overnight parking and non-residents utilizing these spaces prompted the commission to forward the matter to a public hearing for further evaluation.

The commission also addressed a request to install a 15-minute parking sign outside Quicky Mart on Broadway to facilitate quicker customer transactions. Despite the owners’ requests, the commission tabled the item, citing the need for further discussion with the parking department and advisory committee about potential meter regulation changes.

Lastly, the commission examined a request to remove no-parking restrictions on Thorow Avenue, which involved a complex discussion about the street’s geographical layout. Concerns about emergency vehicle access led to a consensus that removing restrictions from Tree Valley to East Mountain could be feasible, pending assurance of unobstructed passage for emergency services. The commission decided to combine related requests into a single public hearing to streamline the decision-making process.