Traffic Restrictions Coming to Milton Ave; Statues and Murals Coming to Downtown

The Borough Council approved the creation of "No Stopping or Standing" signs across from Milton Avenue Elementary School at its meeting Monday in an effort to stem the tide of recent traffic problems near the facility.

The signs will be effective from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. so that they cover dismissal times of both the kindergarten and elementary school.

The current situation has raised a number of concerns for safety and the flow of traffic as numerous members of the public have complained about disrespectful drivers causing congestion in the area. The council approved putting up the signs for a two month trial period while Borough Engineer Vincent DeNave and traffic experts would work to study the effect of the signs in the area.

They expect the signs to be in place within a few weeks.

"We're going to ask people to act correctly down there," said Council President James Collander who joined the meeting by phone. "I think if we do this in phases we can judge its effectiveness and be successful."

The council stressed the importance of enforcing traffic laws in the area and issuing tickets when necessary.

The council also entertained the idea of adding parking near the Milton Avenue School on the more infrequently used soccer field. "I feel that the parking lot on the soccer field is fine, but we should also look at the other field," said Brian Mahoney, a resident who lives near the school.

A number of people also stressed the importance of sidewalks near the school, but it is unlikely they will be established. Anything done on school property, council members said, needs to be approved by the School District of the Chathams Board of Education, and given recent major state cuts to schools, council members said it is unlikely that they would get school funding or timely approval of the sidewalks or parking lots.

The decision to put up the signs was made after a traffic study was performed in January that analyzed congestion problems along Elmwood Avenue near the school.

In other business, the Borough Public Arts Council described its plans to lease two new statues to Chatham Borough and put up murals at Chatham Station, as presented by PAC representative Jen Kaplan. In a meeting filled with discussion about budget cuts and taxation, the council made a point to congratulate the PAC on the fact that it has yet to use any tax dollars for its projects.

Mayor Nelson Vaughan commended the businesses that have supported the PAC. He also praised Kaplan and her "wonderful work in recruiting lovers of art" that have done such excellent work in just over a year and a half since being established in Chatham.

Several statues are currently up in front of The Library of the Chathams.