East Haven Mayor Addresses School Bus Stop Safety Concerns

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

EAST HAVEN, CT – The mayor and the police chief have sent letters to the school superintendent, concerning a parent’s concern over school bus safety on Silver Sands Road.

Both the mayor and police chief were upset that they hadn’t heard from the School Superintendent Dr. Portia Bonner about the complaint.

Mayor Joe Maturo learned of the safety issue while watching the news report on WTNH News 8 concerning the school bus stop on Silver Sands Road. Maturo said his office was not contacted by the residents nor the superintendent’s office and sent the following email to Dr. Portia Bonner, the East Haven Superintendent of Schools:

Good morning Dr. Bonner,

I have been reading the mails between you and Sal regarding a proposed work site which may take place in the future and your regard to safety of the students. I saw this mornings news (on WTNH) regarding what should be a more pressing problem regarding safety of the children and it appears to be immediate and not in the future. This was the first time I heard of this problem, neither your office or the complainant notified any in my office. There seems to be a problem with a bus stop on Silver Sands Rd which is a state road. I have not seen any communication from you to Sal or myself, or Chairman John Finkle regarding this pending safety problem. I have looked into this problem and cannot put speed bumps as requested by the parent on this road since it is a state road. I spoke to Asst. Chief Naccarato today regarding this issue and we will have more (traffic) enforcement during school hours on that road. Since the Bd. of Ed. and yourself employ the bus company and make up the bus stops (I) am asking you to…………. reconsider moving the bus stop to help the safety of our children on that road and the parents. This fix can be done today with no money, no long time hassle working with the DOT. Like yourself, lets be more "proactive" rather than "reactive".

If you need my help, please ask.

Thank you, Mayor Joe

In addition, East Haven Police Chief Edward Lennon also sent an email to the Superintendent’s Office, which is as follows:

Dr. Bonner,

In addition, the Police Department and/or the Board of Police Commissioners has not received any complaints or correspondence regarding excessive speed on Silver Sands Road or any other traffic concerns in the area of this bus stop from either the residents, the bus company, or the Board of Education. Quite frankly, the news broadcast last night was the first I had heard of it. Had we been made aware, we could have provided additional directed traffic enforcement in that area or assisted in determining a solution. In 2016 we did conduct several traffic stops on Silver Roads Road. We plan on doing the same this year and will provide additional directed enforcement in the area of the bus stop during school hours.

Feel free to contact me if you would like us to assist in trying to figure out other solutions that are permissible on a state road.

Sincerely,

Edward R. Lennon Jr.

Chief of Police