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09/22/2023 04:57 PMWESTBROOK
Should Westbrook get rid of the Traffic Authority/Police Advisory Board (PA/TA)? That’s the question Westbrook residents can vote on at a town meeting on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
The Board of Selectman (BOS) unanimously voted to delete the ordinance establishing the PA/TA at its meeting on Sept. 12. However, the deletion of an ordinance must be approved by residents at a town meeting. The BOS has scheduled a town meeting for Oct. 10, when residents can either approve or reject disbanding the board.
According to the town website, “The Police Advisory Board/ traffic authority was created to discuss street issues, speeding and passing zone issues, as well as upcoming construction and other Traffic Violations.” Now, some PA/TA members are saying the authority is no longer needed.
At a Sept. 11 PA/TA meeting, the members unanimously voted to recommend to the BOS that the board be disbanded. At the Sept. 12 BOS meeting, PA/TA member Kimberly Bratz explained that the board acted more as a liaison rather than a board with enforcement powers.
“We were basically the liaison between the police and public works department for requests for things like signs on roads, crosswalks, or people speeding, or if someone has a request that needs to go to the state, we make sure it goes where it needs to go,” Bratz said.
Additionally, Bratz pointed out that the PA/TA does not currently have enough members for a quorum and, therefore, cannot presently meet.
Not everyone is in favor of disbanding authority, though. First Selectman John Hall said that he had received one letter from a member of the PA/TA who thought the board should not be disbanded and should continue to operate.
The BOS members themselves did not feel strongly one way or the other about keeping the PA/TA.
“I have no problem streamlining when it’s called for,” Selectman Joe Campbell said. Campbell also pointed out that if residents strongly felt the PA/TA should be kept, they would have the chance to vote against deleting the ordinance. Bratz echoed that sentiment as well.
“I don’t feel too strongly either way. Whatever they decide is fine with me,” Bratz said.
Should voters agree that the PA/TA can be disbanded, the duties of the board could be absorbed by the first selectman, or a liaison could be used instead of a full board. Bratz reasoned that method might also carry more weight with people.
“I feel like a request from the First Selectman is more well received. He has the highest authority in the town,” Bratz said.