S. Maple gate remains closed
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Residents of South Maple Avenue turned out in force to Monday's Board of Selectmen's meeting to express their concerns about any opening of the gate between the high school and their neighborhood.

The residents came in response to Oakmont Regional High School Principal David Uminski's request for Selectmen to open the gate, which prohibits traffic from exiting the school area and driving down South Maple Ave.

"There are more kids being dropped off here every year than that ride the bus," Uminski said.

Uminski proposed opening the gate for parents exiting the driveway for Oakmont and Overlook Middle schools between 7 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. to help with congestion in the area.

"We're not looking at a total opening of the road," he said.

But residents voiced their opposition at even the partial reopening.

"That gate was put up for safety," said Karen Brackette, of South Maple Avenue.

Brackette said the gate is open for special events and isn't always locked afterwards and expressed concern that students or parents would be speeding down the road.

Selectmen agreed with residents that there would probably be a safety concern with reopening the street for any length of time.

"It seems to me that the problem is too much traffic and opening the street isn't going to solve the problem," Dennehy said.

Dennehy suggested making it mandatory that students ride the bus to school and Uminski said the school administration prefers students to ride to school but could not make it mandatory.

The school district is required by state law to provide a seat on the bus for every student in the district and outside a twomile radius of the school building.

"I'm hearing we're not utilizing the buses," said Ronald Reed, of South Maple Avenue. "Why are they dropping the kids off?"

Selectmen told Police Chief Loring Barrett to place a police officer at the intersection of Oakmont Road and Westminster Street for a couple of mornings for that 30-minute timeframe.

The officer will start his or her duty there after the Westminster Street bridge reopens to traffic.

Carlisle said at the first meeting in November the Selectmen will review the issue with Uminski, Barrett and the neighbors.

Barrett expressed concern about committing an officer to the location because of limited staffing, and add that sometimes adding an officer makes the situation worse.

"I'll make every effort to put an officer out there," Barrett said.

Some other suggestions were to open the buildings earlier so students could be encouraged to get there earlier. Uminski said the building is open at 7 a.m. but that it is a concern because most of the adult staff is not required to arrive until 7:20 a.m.

In other business:

• The Selectmen changed their next meeting to Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. in the Oakmont High School Von Deck room.