HANOVER - The Hanover board discussed reducing the speed limits on some roads in the town at a recent board meeting.
Two roads were on the agenda for speed reductions.
The first was Alleghany Road from the stop light at Routes 5/20 to Bebee Road.
"The traffic flow section down through there is pretty fast," Highway Superintendent Steve D'Angelo said.
He recalled an incident where a car was traveling "110 mph over the Thruway bridge."
Supervisor Todd Johnson said that the thought scares him.
"Especially coming down that hill there with all the residences, it is a scary thought," he said.
The second road was Dennison Road from Stebbins Road for .6 miles through some curves in the road.
"The one thing the state DOT looks at when they do an assessment on a road is history. History is fatalities and I can think of three right off the bat. People are all excited because the road has been paved and they go a little faster," D'Angelo said.
Councilman Wayne Ashley requested adding Bebee Road to the list because it is a 55 mph with golf courses on both sides.
"It is ludicrous to have a 55 mph zone with golf courses on both sides and golf carts," he said.
The board discussed adding Bebee Road from Southerland Road to Alleghany Road but because of the proposed hotel development decided to extend all the way from Southerland Road to Routes 5/20.
"The only thing the state isn't going to go along with is telling them we are going to have a hotel there, but it's not there," D'Angelo warned.
He said all the board can do is ask for the reductions.
"The only thing we are doing is conveying to the state that we have been asked to lower the speed limit. The have to do the speed study and all we can do is ask," he said.
However, the board recounted the fatalities on Bebee Road as well and when it came to a vote, the board unanimously decided to ask for a reduction on all three roads.
"All of these are positive for safety reasons," Johnson added.
Other residents asked for speed reductions on Route 39 near the intersection of Hanover Road
The next town board meeting will be held today.
In other business:
The board authorized the final payment on the water project to E & R Construction for $80,990, $2,300 under budget.
D'Angelo reported that due to delays with the DEC in amending a permit to dredge Parson's Pond, it is unlikely the drainage projects planned for this fall in Sunset Bay will be completed this year.
Chautauqua County Sheriff's Lt. James Quattrone reported the new parking area in Sunset Bay has been working well and he has had no complaints.
Johns reported he did find evidence in the board minutes from the 1970s that the land for a park was donated to the town, although it is not mentioned it was for a bicentennial park. He said a plaque will be made in recognition of the family who donated the land.
