SPECIAL MEETING

April 25, 2001

The Town Council of the Town of Easton met today at 7:00 P.M. in a special meeting. The meeting was called to order with the following members present: Mr. Mayer. Also present were Mayor C. Eugene Butler, Assistant Town Engineer Joe Gruber, and Easton Police Department's Chief of Operations Capt. Ben Blue.

Mr. Mayer opened by thanking the participants. Mr. Mayer stated that he would like to hear concerns and suggestions from the residents.

Mrs. Betty Goslin supports SSPP and suggests that the faculty switch with the student parking to enforce rules and regulations and overall behavior of the students.

Mr. Mayer stated that the facility will always be used as a school and if so it is important to address this situation now. He was speculating whether or not the elementary school or the high school would be the one to move.

Mr. Brian Barnes confirmed that most likely it would be the high school that would move.

Mr. Mayer suggested that at this point the most serious violation is parking on a yellow curb or too close to corners. Mr. Barnes agreed and added that many of these issues cannot be taken care of immediately but they have begun to address some of them. He stated that another concern was that there was not any parking for residents even after school had dismissed, due to after school functions and the people who were attending them.

Mr. Jimmy Rash stated that there were buses that have been parking in front of the resident's homes illegally.

Mr. John Murray, Esq. gave an overview of what has happened since the last meeting. All of the away schools involved in coming to SSPP have been notified of the dos and don’ts. Neighbors have been given copies of the do’s and don’ts and have been asked to voice any of their concerns to the contact person, Mr. Barnes. Student drivers have been issued the do’s and don’ts as well. Parking opportunities have been discussed with Assistant Town Engineer Mr. Gruber. Steps have been taken and actions have been taken to open the lines of communication with the community and the school. Mr. Murray stated that the school is attempting to identify specific parking spots and are considering assigning spots for parking.

Mr. Barnes explained further the actions that have been taken. He explained what is included on the dos and don’ts list that has gone out to student drivers. He stated that they have been informed that they should concentrate on filling every spot on the property of the school first and then make sure they practice close parallel parking. Mr. Barnes stated that the mailboxes and driveways are completely off limits within one-half of a car length. He stated that the students’ car radios should remain turned off until they exit the SSPP area, no loitering and no speeding. The students were told not to walk on residential lawns or discard trash on private property. The have been told to stay completely away from specific houses. He stated that there is no parking on south side of E. Needwood as far as Prospect Avenue. This information covers the description of the ID hang tags that are being issued for cars to make identification easier. Neighbors were also given contact names and numbers and descriptions of the hang tags. Students who participate in athletic events were given specific do’s and don’ts, such as do not change clothes in your vehicle. Once the main school has let out and the buses are gone student drivers need to move to the empty parking spots closer to the school. They were also told that their general behavior needs improvement. He noted that the Athletic Director has been in contact with the other schools and associations concerning buses and how they need to drop off the kids and then leave and return once the regular cars have left and proceed to park in the lot next to the playground. Mr. Barnes stated that all of this would take time. They have also put out regular reminders of pickup times and reminding people not to hang around out in front of the school. He explained that they are trying to identify a priority for parking. They plan on issuing hang tags that will correspond with a specific space that will be marked with a stake and corresponding number. They want to encourage the use of all spots available to SSPP.

Mr. Mayer stated that residents now have a contact, which is further than they have been before and some of the problems are being addressed and taken care of. He explained that Mr. Gruber, Assistant Town Engineer, had been out with Mr. Barnes looking at some different possibilities for parking around the school.

Mr. Barnes thanked Mr. Gruber and the town for addressing the issues of safety, costs, and engineering problems that the school will be looking at. He knows most of the issues cannot be taken care of immediately. In order to bring closure to the communication issues, he will begin to talk to the parents of student athletes regarding the parking after school so that it might be passed on to the children.

Mr. Mayer discussed the problems and concerns of the residents and stated that a new policy developed and followed.

Mr. Barnes agreed and stated that he would discuss it with the high school principal.

Mr. Gruber described different options for parking. He stated that one area behind the gym in between the gym and play area, is a safety concern. Mr. Gruber stated that maybe the faculty should use this area, east of the school and north of the gym. The two lots they own near the Nanticoke home building are the third option. It will solve a lot of the parking problems as well as lowering traffic on Choptank Ave; the school would then be able to add approximately forty parking spots.

Discussion occurred regarding SS. Peter & Paul being a regional school, which makes it difficult to predict the population of school. Mrs. Carol Prettyman feels the priority parking should be taken care of, not necessarily the population.

Mr. Mayer supported this idea because he felt that it is more cost effective and makes more sense.

Mr. Barnes stated that it is too early to determine what the decision will be. He did not want to speak on behalf of the school at this point since he did not want to say anything that he would not be able to back up.

Discussion ensued over these issues with Mr. Mayer agreeing with Mr. Jimmy Rash in regards to needing a time limit on a decision..

Mr. Mayer introduced Captain Ben Blue of the Easton Police Department into the discussion.

Captain Blue stated that he has observed an improvement since the last meeting. He mentioned that some of the concerns that had been brought to his attention. One of the issues being a boy who had stated that the parents that are arriving in the morning and parking to drop off their children thereby using the spots closest to the school causing student drivers to have to park further away. This action is leaving the empty spots up front by the school after it begins. He suggested that maybe the times should be staggered in arrival time and dismissal time to help that problem. Capt. Blue feels that it is time to designate restricted parking areas and formalize this to prevent student drivers from backsliding. He also feels that East Needwood should be restricted parking for two hours with residential exemption. He is for the students parking on campus and feels that it is necessary.

The discussion continued regarding the students parking on campus; SSPP was given more time to make some decisions.

Mr. Mayer scheduled the next meeting for May 24, 2001 at 7:00 P.M.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 P.M.

Town Clerk