Safety Committee Meeting Minutes, 2/20/24

Chair and Host: Jennifer Deabler
Minutes: Doreen Miller
Also in attendance: Heidi Moesinger

Requests for Clean-up of Beaches and Sidewalks

  • Rep. Dan Hunt forwarded our requests for seagrass and sidewalk clean-ups to DCR.
  • There has been no action as of this meeting.
  • Dead seagrass is intermingled with plastics and used needles have been found.
  • Update: After the meeting on a walk, members noted that the pile of dirt and stones at the bottom of Fox Point Road on the boulevard sidewalk had finally been cleared.

Homeless Encampments

  • Word has it that they are now “under the bridge” and less visible.
  • Jennifer will check it out.

Walgreen’s Update

  • Communication has become frustrating with the manager no longer responding to concerns.
  • ISD did a walk-around on the grounds on three occasions citing the need for clean-up and rodent control.
  • Both City Liaison Ross Cochran and Councilor Fitzgerald are no longer getting a response from the manager.
  • The property has been listed as a “problem property.” What are the next steps in this process? Jennifer will look into this.

Slow Down for Dorchester Campaign signs

  • Depending on the number of signs CSHCA still has, leaders of the campaign would like to give 2-3 signs to bordering civic groups along with the order form to order more directly from the sign manufacturer in order to expand our efforts to slow traffic.
  • Possible groups include:
    • Jones Hill
    • Fields Corner
    • Ashmont Hill
    • Clam Point
  • Jennifer will check with Bill Walczak on contacts.

Traffic Slowing Measures

  • Speed Humps
    • Councilor Fitzgerald is supportive of our efforts to install speed humps in key locations.
    • We should prioritize areas by schools and parks.
  • Crosswalks
    • They are needed to safely access Savin Hill Park.
    • There are curbstones and real sidewalk near the stone monument that could easily facilitate the installation of crosswalks there into the park.
    • The crosswalk at Denny Street juts out significantly into the roadway and is dangerous.
    • The intersection at Denny Street is very unusual and spread out. It might be a prime candidate for a completely raised intersection.
    • Perhaps we could push for design painting to draw attention to the intersection and get people to slow down.
  • Other Safety Concerns
    • There is a utility pole on/heading up Caspian Way that is smack in the middle of the sidewalk, forcing anyone with a stroller or in a wheelchair out into the street.
    • There should be four-way stop signs at the intersection of Savin Hill Avenue and Sydney Street as this business district is very busy and dangerous.

The New Public Health Committee

  • The chair of this committee is Eileen Boyle.
  • Its page is now up on the website.
  • Since many areas of Safety and Public Health overlap, perhaps it might be a good idea to combine both committee meetings into one. This would:
    • Encourage a bigger turn out at meetings.
    • Cover both the safety and health concerns of local issues.
  • Each committee will maintain its present chair(s).
  • Jennifer will discuss this idea with co-chair Dianne before approaching Eileen.