A group of Toddy Hill Road area residents concerned about chronic speeding and reckless driving problems there are urging police to continue their motor vehicle violation crackdown as a public safety measure in the densely developed residential area.

At the July 10 Police Commission meeting, Candide Slinko of 79 Toddy Hill Road, a longtime resident of that area, told commission members that speeding remains a problem. In response to recent complaints from area residents, police have increased their motor vehicle enforcement in that neighborhood.

Ms Slinko suggested that road signs be posted along Toddy Hill Road to inform motorist of the presence of several side streets in the area from which motorists enter Toddy Hill Road.

Police Chief James Viadero said the town is developing a comprehensive traffic signage plan for the area, which will be implemented, hopefully, by the end of summer.

Police are working with the Department of Public Works on the signage project, said Police Commission Chairman Joel Faxon.

Bill Duffy of 7 Pilgrim Lane told commission members that "street name" signs are not securely anchored in place. Chief Viadero said that residents noticing such problems can use the town's website to make the public works unit aware of such signage problems.

Pete Sepe of 83 Toddy Hill Road asked about progress on the police department's ongoing study of traffic problems on Toddy Hill Road.

Traffic enforcement will continue, said Chief Viadero, adding that recording devices will again be installed to measure the speed and volume of traffic moving through the area. The police made 54 motor vehicle stops during June on Toddy Hill Road.

Police will again position their trailer-based speed display on Toddy Hill Road to inform motorists of their travel speeds compared to the posted speed limit in the area, he said. The chief added he expects that the traffic study on Toddy Hill Road will be ready by August 1.

Carolyn Sepe of 83 Toddy Hill Road asked about the town posting traffic signs prohibiting "through-truck" traffic in area. Posting such signs in the area is not possible, Chief Viadero said. The chief pointed out that the presence of the low-clearance Housatonic Railroad overpass over Botsford Hill Road, near Swamp Road, has the practical effect of limiting the number of trucks that are able to travel on Toddy Hill Road.

Of the recent heightened traffic enforcement on Toddy Hill Road, Ms Slinko observed that there has been "a modest improvement" in driver behavior, but added that some drivers still speed through the area.

Other Matters

In other business, Chief Viadero told Police Commission members that the state plans to install siren-activated controls at the traffic signals at the intersection of Mt Pleasant Road and Hawleyville Road in Hawleyville. Thus, when emergency vehicles sounding their sirens approach that intersection, the signals will change to "all red" to allow the emergency vehicles to safely pass through the intersection.

Also, the police chief said that police will be continuing testing body-mounted cameras, with the goal of acquiring such devices for patrol officers this fall. Such cameras record the incidents to which police respond, providing visual and sonic recordings for documentation purposes.

Chief Viadero said he expects that police will put a new German shepherd into patrol service by the end of summer. The new animal will replace police dog Saint, who died recently.

Also, police have started making a transition to their new uniforms, which are dark blue. The new uniforms will replace the current gray and black uniforms.

In another matter, police are recommending that shuttle buses be used to shuttle passengers to the Fairfield Hills campus from outlying parking lots for a planned food truck festival next year. A recent food truck festival at Fairfield Hills caused extensive traffic congestion.