TOWN OF BRADFORD
SELECTMEN’S MEETING
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
TASK FORCE MEETING
TOWN HALL
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
3:30PM
ATTENDANCE:
Attending the Task Force Meeting were: Nick Coates, CNHRPC, Cheryl Behr, Town Administrator, Beth Rodd, Marvin and Dawn Rich, Chris Waite, Jim Valiquet, Police Chief, Jane Johnsen Andrew Pinard and Marge Cilley, Secretary.
Mr. Coates handed out information packets including “Reasons to Walk or Bike with your Child to School, NHDOT Application Form for SRTS Startup Funding and the Agenda with attached sample Tally Sheet.
Cheryl Behr, Administrator thanked Nick Coates for coming along with all other attendees. Nick Coates identified himself as working for CNHRPC for the region, including Bradford and is assisting the town with the Transportation Grant (TE).
The deadline for the Grant application is November 15, 2009. There are two years left in the Grant program then it could get re-authorized, however, there is no guarantee. This is Federal Money that is distributed to the State and then brought to the communities based on applications. Applications need to be submitted immediately, as this is very competitive. The dollar amount now available is Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) as opposed to the one hundred thousand ($100,000) previously.
Not able to be here today were Kathy McKenna and Robin Steiner. The Supt. of Schools in Newbury was contacted and is interested. The Fire Chief was also contacted.
Nick Coates advised the whole point of Safe Routes to School is not about building sidewalks, not about infrastructure but building a community with three pillars to making the project successful: 1. People in the Community becoming involved. 2. Town Employees 3. School Board, Superintendent etc.
Mr. Coates advised comments using distance as an excuse is a cop out, that this could make the community a better place to live. The Town of Contoocook was used as an example that has a very successful program, and will be used as guidance for Bradford.
Some topics benefitting from the program are combating obesity; helping kids be more active, reduce air pollution. Also pointed out was that this program is not for just this very moment, but for growing a community and making it safe for the future.
There are three Grant Programs available for the community.
1. Start Up Grant for $5,000 or less.
a. Organizing a committee and determining early things to work on with the community, and begin doing some preliminary engineering, looking around, and involving the Police Department.
2. Travel Plan for $15,000 or less for each school. (Anything over $5,000 has to be approved by Governor and Council).
a. Preliminary Engineering – looking more specifically at what are the barriers that are holding kids and parents back from walking, bicycling more. Looking at results of surveys that were administered to students and parents and looking at what can be done as a community.
3. General Grant for $250,000 per project.
a. Look at what has been built so far, where are some sidewalk projects we can do, where are some bicycling projects that can be done, re-route the busses etc.
These three Grant Programs must be done in the above sequence.
An application needs to be in to the State by next week for the Start Up Grant. Following that the following month, build a Travel Plan without delay, then the General Grant process.
At this time, The Application Form was gone over and several possible new members’ names were mentioned.
The discussion continued with the following topics:
Describe the objective of the initial planning efforts.
Describe the evaluation, education, encouragement and enforcement components of the initial effort.
Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Evaluation discussed.
The need, Existing Conditions, Reconstruction of Walkways, Conceptual Design and Additional Evaluation also discussed.
Letters of recommendation are needed from:
Bike Walk Alliance from NH (Nik Coates will do this).
Police Dept.
Fire Dept.
Selectmen or Town Administrator
Community Center
This was explained as a reimbursement program: The money must be paid up front from the town, then will be reimbursed by the State to the Town at 100%. This process takes about three years.
Some requirements needed:
More members
Interim Chair person: Andrew Pinard agreed.
Review Applications
Neil Coates will forward e-mails to Cheryl with work plan.
The minimum of five letters of recommendation for Safe Routes to School should be received by September 24, 2009 by either Cheryl, Neil or Andrew. A sample form letter will be forwarded for ideas from Nick Coates.
Public Relations could include but not limited to School parents newsletter, Bradford Bridge, Town Web Site, Concord Monitor Neighbors, Intertown Record, CHIPS, Farmers Market with banner and flyers for getting information out.
The next meeting is scheduled for October 1, 2009 at 3:30pm.
Meeting Adjourned at 5:00pm
Respectfully submitted
Marjorie R. Cilley
Secretary