Speed limit signs to be placed on 2nd St.

(8/15) At the suggestion of Commissioner Cutshall, speed limit signs will be placed on Second Street. Cutshall told the Council that he was surprised to discover that the street did not have any speed limit signs at all, and suggested that two be placed on every block—each facing on coming traffic.

Cutshall noted that with the number of kids he sees playing on the streets, that sooner or later someone was going to be hurt and that when it happened, the question as to why the Town had not chosen to install speed limit signs would be raised.

Cutshall’s recommendation to place two signs on every block, however, failed when the council was informed that the town had just paid $225 for the four signs that had recently been installed on Main Street, and that Cutshall’s request would cost the town an additional $900.

Commissioner Case recommended that, at a minimum, signs be placed at the entrance to Second Street and half way down the street, met with everyone approval.

In spite of the Commissioner’s agreement, the Council expressed concern that speed limit signs would have no effect until there was a way to enforce the speed limit.

Barnes told the Council that he was in active discussion with the State in hopes of gaining funding for the town’s acquisition of speed cameras. The only drawback, Barnes noted, was that the State currently requires a police officer to read the photos taken and to issue the tickets.

Barnes told the Council that he had approached Thurmont Mayor Kinnard about the possibly of the Thurmont Police Department reading the photos, and had received a positive response.

Barnes, however, informed the Council that there is a proposal in the State legislature to change the rule by replacing the requirement of a ‘police officer’ to read the photos to a ‘trained individual" and recommended that the Town look into sending one of its staff to receive the training and be certified to read the camera’s results.

"Tickets from cameras max out at $40. If we have a policeman from another town read the results, we have to pay them. If we have our own staff read the results, we get to keep all the money."

Barnes said he would keep the Council informed as he hears more form the State on the schedule for getting the speed cameras.