On Tuesday, September 9, the Borough Board of Burgesses discussed safety improvement along Main Street, and supported the creation of a Cultural District in Newtown.

Following the conclusion of the annual meeting, Maher then began the regular meeting. First on the agenda was an update from Betsy Paynter and Laura Lerman on behalf of Newtown’s Cultural District Committee.

Paynter said she and Lerman have been working every week with the other members of the committee to research and present the Cultural District to the community, which happened on August 21. Paynter said the presentation “really highlights all of our wonderful assets in the town.”

“Within this resolution, it just states that we have created our Cultural Committee … that we did the public outreach, that we created the maps … We will then work with the town, the Borough, and Sandy Hook village to promote cultural tourism, economic development, and community engagement, and the committee shall continue to develop goals and objectives of the Cultural District,” Paynter told the board. She added at the end that New Milford was just awarded its own Cultural District, and that Bethel is currently applying for its district as well. Paynter said with a laugh, “We want to get in there before Bethel.”

The burgesses put the resolution to a vote and it passed unanimously. Maher then signed the resolution and Paynter and Lerman were on their way.

Then Maher shifted the conversation toward the continued discussion of traffic and pedestrian safety in the Main Street area. Maher addressed the Police Commission at its last meeting on Tuesday, September 2. Maher’s letter stated that the Borough is making three “modest requests.”

The first request is for solar powered crosswalk signs to be installed at the crosswalk in front of Edmond Town Hall and around the flagpole. The second request is for a rumble strip on the southbound shoulder of Main Street at the flagpole. The third request is for a police cruiser to be parked near the flagpole.

Maher said, “I think the approach to any modifications to Main Street will have to be through this program, Safe Streets 4 All. There’s no question about that. The commission was not embracing the idea of changing signage on the crosswalks or on the rumble strip. They deferred to the state.”

Maher explained the Police Commission’s website says it is the local traffic authority. Burgess Jim Gaston said “it would be nice” if the commission supported them. Maher said he said that, “word for word,” to the commission, “We’re just looking for support.”

Maher said the response was “boilerplate.” Senior Burgess Chris Gardner said the commission always defers to the state, and suggested finding a contact from the state Department of Transportation. Maher said the Borough does have a contact.

Gaston then said, “We should reach out.”

Maher’s response was quick and simple: “Okay.”

Later on in the meeting, Maher also updated the board that the Church Hill Road and Queen Street crosswalk project will officially begin on September 22.

Tree Warden’s Report, Zoning Updates, And Flagpole Updates

Robbie McColluch, the Borough’s tree warden, submitted his report. Several dead or dying trees have been removed throughout the Borough, including the two large trees in front of Honan’s Funeral Home. Maher asked the board if the others wanted to consider replacing the trees, but the other burgesses replied that they wanted to wait for the stumps to be ground before making a decision.

Very few updates from Joseph Chapman, the Borough zoning enforcement officer, came in. Chapman informed the board that there was a zoning permit issued for a sign application for 14 Church Hill Road. This was originally a bank drive-through ATM that is now being converted into a café called Café Duo. Chapman is still waiting on the owner for paperwork regarding 69 Main Street.

Gardner then informed the group that the flagpole is “all done.” He said that the town assumed the costs of the painting and finial replacement, which was about $15,000, and is hoping to go through insurance to get the cost covered. Gardner once again praised Queen Street Cleaners for repairing the summer flag in such a timely, professional manner. He said Rosa Cordova not only stitched the flag back together, but she turned the project around in a day and charged $25. Gardner mentioned that a new summer flag is around $800.

Though an executive session regarding the Castle Hill zoning cases was on the agenda, Maher admitted he did not realize it was and was not prepared for it. The meeting was then adjourned.

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.