Central Avenue Stoplight Issue Getting 'Worse and Worse,' Resident Tells Town Council

It's unclear whether Mayor Andy Skibitsky made any wishes before blowing out the candles on the birthday cake that members of the Town Council shared with those in attendance before Tuesday night's meeting. But if Skibitsky or other Council members had hoped that the controversial Central Avenue pedestrian activated stoplight issue would dissipate after , it soon became clear that such a wish has yet to be granted.

The Central Avenue stoplight dispute continued to dominate the public forum portion of Town Council meeting Tuesday, where it has become a staple for nearly ten months. The placement of the pedestrian activated traffic light on the property of resident Adina Enclescu, just in from the intersection with Clover Street, has evoked strong emotions from both residents and Council members and triggered numerous debates on safety, process and the transparency of decision-making.

Council members said Union County is currently overseeing an evaluation of the intersection and the effectiveness of the stoplight and that the Council will wait until that evaluation concludes before making any adjustments. Town officials have said since the light's activation over 90 days ago, that they would not consider any adjustments until after an evaluation, which would not occur until 90 days after the light's activation.

Meanwhile, those who have become familiar faces at Council meetings since September through their opposition to the light said the passing months have only exacerbated the problem.

"It just gets worse and worse and worse," said Enclescu of the situation.

Among the complaints Enclescu listed was the vehicular and foot traffic the light has brought to her driveway and the bright blinking signs that nearby residents say have become an eyesore to those who must deal with them 24/7.

Council members remained mostly silent during each resident's time behind the microphone, while four different residents speaking against the stoplight exhausted all ten minutes allotted to each of them by the Council. Skibitsky and Council members have said that they are not going to answer questions from Enclescu and her allies going forward, saying they have answered all of the questions relating to the stoplight.

Enclescu in particular had to be urged to wrap up at least three times. Skibitsky's interactions with Enclescu and her allies in recent weeks have centered on reminding them on the time limit. While no decisions were made or any tangible changes implemented at the meeting, residents expressed a sense of hope after the meeting, exchanging hugs and words of encouragement to each other.

"Absolutely," said resident Maria Carluccio, when asked by the Patch if she thought that she and other opponents of the stoplight have made progress on the issue since they began speaking against it in September.

Carluccio, who lives next to the property the light was installed on, said that the addition of traffic signs and crossing guards indicates that she believes the town acknowledges that there are safety issues at the intersection. However, not all of the additions have been effective, she said. Carluccio offered to show the Council photographs she claimed were taken Monday afternoon and allegedly showed cars driving through red lights despite the presence of a crossing guard.

The issue will likely be discussed further at the next Council meeting on Tuesday, June 28.