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Traffic Safety Discussed in South Amboy. Two Residents Stress Need for Speed Signs and Police Presence

South Amboy Council

South Amboy Council

By: Joseph L. Kuchie

SOUTH AMBOY – Two different residents brought their concerns about speeding cars and child safety to the South Amboy council at last Wednesday’s city council meeting.

John Mulligan, Jr. of Augusta Street explained that every day he sees commuters flying past his house at high speeds and ignoring stop signs in the area. Mulligan pleaded that the council do something to make the streets safer for his kids and the 33 children that live in his area.

“My stepson is deaf… you put the helmet on [and] he doesn’t hear anything,” Mulligan said. “We’re outside screaming at cars [speeding by], they don’t care.  Mulligan said. “There’s got to be something done.”

Resident Ken Feely of Barkalow Street sided with Mulligan, explaining that he too has seen cars speeding past his home on a daily basis. Feely, whose car has been hit by a speeding driver outside his home in the past, feared that the children who play at Charles Brown Jr. / Robert Hughes Memorial Park three houses down may be at risk.

“Now that we have the good weather and the park is open, we have a lot of kids playing ball there,” Feely said. “Something needs to be done before somebody gets hit or some kid gets killed.”

Feely also noted how dangerous his area of Barkalow can be if drivers are speeding or texting and driving. The road bends hard to the left or right based on which direction the driver is coming from, and the area can be very treacherous to travel on even in nice weather.

City Engineer Mark Rasimowicz brought positive news about Barkalow Street, noting that the city has proposed new signage and road striping to the New Jersey Department of Transportation and is awaiting word of the review. Mayor Fred Henry also told Mulligan that he would speak to Police Chief Darren Lavigne about monitoring Augusta Street and coming up with a solution.

The ongoing garbage codes situation was also discussed. Because of the potential time change of putting garbage to the curb on top of the previous changes, City Attorney John Lanza recommended that the council withdraw original Ordinance #9-2015 and introduce Ordinance #10-2015 on first reading.

Ordinance #10-2015 has all the original changes but added that the earliest garbage can go to the curb is 6:00 p.m. Currently the code states that residents can not put their garbage out until 8:00 p.m. the night before pickup, but many older residents were concerned about having to put their trash out in the dark.

Residents will be able to comment on the updated ordinance at next month’s city council meeting on July 15th at 7:00 p.m.

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