North Fairhaven Improvement Association member John Medeiros (left) speaks to members and residents while NFIA president-elect* Andrew Romano listens at a meeting that was supposed to include town public works officials on 10/5/23. Photo by Beth David. *Corrected to reflect Mr. Romano’s correct title, president-elect, not president.
By Beth David, Editor
Members of the North Fairhaven Improvement Association gathered for a neighborhood meeting on 10/5 that was supposed to include members of the public works department, but due to a misunderstanding, PW superintendent Vinnie Furtado and Highway Superintendent Joshua Crabb did not attend. The meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, 10/12, at the NFIA building, 267 Adams Street, at 6 p.m.
Mr. Furtado and Mr. Crabb will update the NFIA and other residents on the progress of the state’s plan to make changes to Benoit Square. The merger point of Main Street and Adams Street has always been a tricky spot. Now there is a senior housing development where the Oxford School once operated. The consensus is that crossing Adams and Main to get to the businesses on the other side of Main Street is dangerous for anyone, more so for seniors.
The state has proposed putting some temporary barriers to make the merger point more of a regular turn, adding a yield sign, and moving the crosswalk to make it a shorter distance from the residences to the businesses.
The plan is not without detractors, and some confusion has developed over the weeks since it was first proposed. The NFIA has been hoping to get the neighbors involved to ask questions and make suggestions.
What seems to be missing from the plan is a way to slow down traffic, and a way to eliminate trucks, which has been on the neighborhood wish list for years.
Several residents did show up for the meeting hoping to ask questions and make suggestions.
Ann Richard said maybe the public works officials and state officials could create an informational video. She also suggested that people submit questions ahead of time so the video could address those concerns.
Ed Rose said those videos are helpful, but there is not back-and-forth exchange. Sometimes, he said, what people hear in a video prompts a new question.
Visit the Neighb News website, www.neighbnews.com and search for “Benoit Square” to find several articles on the proposal.
To learn more about the NFIA, visit https://northfairhavenimprovementassoc.weebly.com/ or email northfairhavenimprovement267@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.
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