Dayton Town Board

requests meeting with DOT

by Karen Blake

     Roadway reconstruction issues, in particular problem intersections, were again the main topic at Monday’s Dayton Town Board meeting.

     Cattaraugus County Engineer Mark Burr showed town officials the design maps of the county’s recently completed reconstruction of the intersection of County Road 57 (Cottage-Markham Road) and Peck Hill Road in Cottage. He explained the design options that had been considered, and that the county road coming to a “T” into Peck Hill Road was the best design for sight distance and safety considerations. The county has been working with the town to add more signage to help in identifying the new intersection.

     Burr said it’s a matter of people changing driving habits, “getting used to something different.” He also recommended the town pursue extending the reduced 45 mph speed limit up the (Peck) hill. Board members generally agreed the new intersection was an improvement and the additional signs have helped.

     Discussion moved to the long-standing, unresolved reconstruction plans for the Bentley Road and County Road 57 intersection at Markham. Burr re-explained the county’s proposed design of reconstructing the curve to improve the sight distance and having Bentley Road come to a “T” instead of the current "fork." He said the county road would be the “through” road, and the design was determined by traffic counts as well as safety issues.

     In response to a number of suggestions for other design options, Burr explained why they would not be workable, stating the design must meet the state engineering standards. Adding to the current dangerous sight-distance problem at the intersection is the speeding, and people not stopping for the STOP signs, according to board members. They restated their concerns that the proposed redesign of the curve would make the speeding much worse.

     Burr said the project, originally proposed in 1997, would remain on hold until land acquisition and design issues could be resolved, and then it would need to be rebudgeted and worked into the county’s program. As to what could be done in the meantime, it was agreed that getting law enforcement to crack down on the speeding and stop sign problems was a priority.

     While it is not the county’s project, Burr was asked if the county could do something about problems with the state DOT’s (Department of Transportation) ongoing reconstruction of Route 62 through the town. Board members said there were a lot of complaints about the mess left, bad bumps, guard rails blocking access to fire hydrants, and the very dangerous sight-distance situation at the new “T” reconstruction of the Route 62 and Peck Hill intersection.

     Burr suggested the town send a formal letter to Allen Taylor, the DOT regional director, asking that they come to talk about the issues. He said, “Now is a good time to identify any changes that need to be made.” The board invite representatives of the DOT to the next town board meeting, March 28.

     Burr was also asked about designation and names of roads in the town, Officials and residents said there is some confusion with deliveries and with emergency services, 911, etc. as to what segment of the road is, for example, “Cottage Road,” or “Cottage-Markham” Road, or when referred to as “Markham-Cottage” Road.

     A committee was formed to work on coordinated road names and signs, which Burr said is under the town’s jurisdiction.

     In other business, the board:

   •  Heard reports from Town Assessor Bob Busekist and Interim Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer Bob Hintz.
   •  Will send a request to the state DOT to extend the new 45 mph speed limit reduction from Edwards Corners Road in Cottage up Peck Hill Road 1,000 feet.
   •  Authorized sending the budgeted $300 to the Conewango Watershed Commission for the town's share of maintaining and cleaning “The Dredge.’
   •  Will send a letter of support to the ARC (Appalachian Regional Commission to get another primary care doctor in the area.
   •  Will consider supporting a task force to create a state study on implementing a new voting machine system for New York State under the “Help America Vote Act.”
   •  Heard responses from state legislators (Senator Pat McGee, Assemblywoman Cathy Young, and Assembly Majority Leader Sheldon Silver) on reforming Medicaid costs.
   •  Town of Dayton Court Reports for January 2005 were noted as follows: Justice Jeffrey Beightol heard the following cases - nine Vehicle and Traffic, two Penal Law, four Certification of Conviction, for a total of 15 cases and $1,060 in fines, surcharges and civil fees; Justice Josephine L. Beightol heard the following cases - five Vehicle and Traffic, one Penal Law, two Arraignments for Town of Persia, for a total of eight cases and $240 in fines, surcharges and civil fees. A total of $1,300 was submitted to the supervisor.

     In the Annual Report (January - December 2004) for the Town of Dayton Court, Justice Jeffrey Beightol heard the following cases - 193 Vehicle and Traffic, 25 Penal Law, three ABC Law, four Parks and Recreation Law, three Environmental Conservation Law, one Civil Fee, one Bail Poundage, eight Transportation Law, 11 Certificates of Conviction, one 6NYCRR, one Small Claim, two Tax Law, one Town Building Code, one Certified Copy, five Termination of Suspension Fee, for a total of 260 cases and $20,879.50 in fines, surcharges and civil fees. Justice Josephine J. Beightol heard the following cases - 116 Vehicle and Traffic law, one Small Claim, two Penal Law, three Environmental Conservation Law, for a total of 122 cases and $8,362 in fines and surcharges. A total of $29,241.50 was submitted to the supervisor.

     The next scheduled Town of Dayton Board meeting is Monday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the town hall.