Saugus to hold public hearing on street signs

SAUGUS – The Board of Selectmen will head out on yet another site visit regarding a neighborhood signage issue, but this time will head to an all too familiar neighborhood.The Barker family is becoming nearly as familiar a presence at selectmen meetings as the board members themselves. Jean and Michael Barker were on hand once again Tuesday to see that a public hearing was called for a possible “one way” designation for a portion of Elmwood Avenue.Elmwood runs parallel to Vine Street and intersects Adams Avenue.The Barkers, as well as several other residents, have been before the board numerous times over the last two years looking to have various street signs posted in an effort to solve what they see as a speeding issue on the street. A problem that in their eyes also includes Elmwood Street as well.Two years ago, several Elmwood Avenue residents lobbied hard for a four way stop sign at the intersection of Adams and Elmwood avenues, despite opposition from Police Lt. Stephen Sweezey. The board never granted the residents’ request.Board members will head out into the neighborhood at 8:30 a.m. on April 11 to try and get a handle on the latest request to make Elmwood, in part, a one way.The public hearing on the issue will be held May 5.A public hearing will also be held on whether to elect signage on Jackson Street as well. Six months ago the board agreed to put up several no parking signs along Jackson, a short street that runs between Central and Essex and is largely residential on one end and business on the other.”We put the signs up and said we would revisit it in the springtime,” Sweezey said. “It’s why we need a public hearing and I would like to give the businesses a chance to talk.”The board also agreed to one other signage request that needed no visit nor public hearing. A resident of Floyd Street, in a letter to Sweezey, requested signs be posted to warn drivers to slow down because there were children in the area.”We don’t use the word ‘children’ on signs anymore,” Sweezey said. “I would put up a reduce speed sign at either end.”Lt. Michael Annese said it was decided by state and federal officials that since nearly every neighborhood has children, the use of the word on actual signs was irrelevant and it was dropped.The board, however, agreed to ask Public Services to post signs warning drivers to reduce speed at either end of the street.