Town Council Defers Action on Randolph & Fig Intersection

By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

September 17, 2012

Cape Charles Town Council members agreed September 13 that something needs to be done about the dangerous Randolph Avenue-Fig Street intersection. But they also agreed that now is not the time to do it.

Until 2008, the intersection of Randolph and Fig was controlled by three-way stop signs: all traffic was required to stop except for vehicles on Randolph heading west into Town.

That traffic pattern was blamed for an accident and a number of near misses.

In January 2008, Cape Charles Police Department recommended four-way stop signs for the intersection.

The Virginia Department of Transportation owns Town roads and has authority over signs. At the Town’s request, VDOT performed a traffic study, but the result was not what the Town expected.

Instead of adding a stop sign, VDOT removed the eastbound stop sign on Randolph Avenue to improve traffic flow.

At last Thursday’s Town Council meeting, Council member Frank Wendell urged Council to request a four-way stop. He said the intersection was dangerous because of the number of golf carts, bikes, and children using it.

Police Chief Sambo Brown reported some near misses but no serious accidents at the intersection since 2008.

Town Planner Tom Bonadeo observed that a roundabout might be a better traffic calmer for the intersection. Four-way stops require too many decisions and can cause accidents, he said.

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Town Manager Heather Arcos explained that the Town has no authority to request stop signs. It can only ask VDOT to conduct another traffic study.

Council passed a motion to defer requesting a traffic study during the off-season. All members agreed that the time for a study is in the summer when traffic is heaviest.

OTHER COUNCIL ACTION

Town Council appointed three new members to the Planning Commission: Andrew Buchholz, Sandra Salopek, and William Stramm.

Eugene Kelly was appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Theresa Strub was appointed to the Historic District Review Board.

Steve Michel was reappointed to the Building Code Board of Appeals.

Council voted to hold a work session on “Guidelines for Citizen Participation” drafted by Town staff.  Draft guidelines include:

— Limiting speakers to three minutes. (Currently, a speaker may give his or her time to another speaker);

— Requiring speakers to state their position, give facts to substantiate their position, and relate the concerns they believe should be considered;

— Prohibiting audience applause;

— Banning display of signs or distribution of pamphlets at a meeting; and

— Restricting photography to side aisles or back of room.

Councilman Wendell said it was ironic to see the guidelines proposed immediately following Council’s Constitution Week Proclamation.  Participating in Town meetings should be a right, not a privilege, he said.

Council also passed a resolution accepting the Planning Commission’s finding that the purchase of the former Bank of America building for use as a library would be in accord with the Comprehensive Plan.

Council voted unanimously to authorize the Town manager to apply for a USDA grant to purchase equipment and furnishings for the new library.

Council member Joan Natali asked how much staff time had been spent responding to Freedom of Information Act requests related to the old school. Town manager Arcos said about 58 staff hours had been required.

Councilman Wendell asked how much staff time had been spent negotiating the old school contract and how much had been spent on attorney fees. Arcos replied that staff time spent on the contract was not known. Attorney fees have been about $28,000 for the contract and about $25,000 on the Old School Cape Charles lawsuit, she said.

Police Officer James Pruitt announced plans for a memorial service for a Cape Charles policeman killed in the line of duty in 1918. A dedication service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, October 10, at Central Park. Relatives of the fallen officer will be in attendance.

Edward Lewis of Chesapeake gave a presentation about a proposed Watermen’s Memorial for those who lost their lives at sea and for their family members. Lewis said the memorial was planned to be in Oyster, but more people would see it in Cape Charles. He suggested the Town Harbor parking area. Vice Mayor Bannon said it would be “quite a draw.” However, no action was taken at the meeting.

Assistant Town manager Bob Panek reported on Arts Enter’s two-year $175,000 project for a network of public spaces with performing and visual arts. The National Endowment for the Arts has provided a $50,000 grant. Arts Enter will use some of the funds to develop a tourism-related website to promote local business and arts in the town.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Several public speakers asked Town Council to cancel the pending sale of the old school at Central Park and instead allow Old School Cape Charles, LLC, to use the building for a community center.

Concerns were raised about young people who have seen their baseball field taken away and would soon see the basketball court removed as well. Local social worker Becky Creed said the Town has a responsibility to meet the needs of its children.

Deborah Bender noted that a partner to the old school sale, J. David McCormack, has failed to pay the water connection fees for a similar project in Blackstone, Virginia. According to the local Blackstone newspaper, the Blackstone town manager said that McCormack did not have the money to pay the connection fees. “What happens when they have to pay us and they don’t have the money?” Bender asked. Bender also exhibited a reservation form for Cape Charles Lofts advertising one- and two-bedroom apartments. The contract with the Town is for one-bedroom apartments only.

Lenore Mitchell noted that the contract signed by the Town with the old school developer stated that offering housing to persons receiving government assistance would be prohibited  to the “extent permitted by law.” She said she would raise this with the Fair Housing offices in Richmond and Philadelphia.

Councilman Tom Godwin expressed surprise to learn that the contract contained this language. “I am very concerned about the exclusion of Section 8 housing vouchers. I want to make sure that we are not discriminating against anyone,” he said.