Resident Says Stop Light is Terrorizing Her

Debate over the pedestrian activated stop light on Central Avenue just in from Clover continued Tuesday night as residents continued to press the Town Council to remove the light and Council members listened without answering questions.

The Issue

Central Avenue residents Adina Encelscu and Maria Carluccio have been addressing the Council since September asking for the town to remove a new pedestrian activated light from Encelscu’s lawn. The two have also questioned if the light should be on Encelscu’s lawn or should it be moved to the intersection with Clover Street, a 100 feet away.

The pair, who have been joined by several other residents and have submitted a petition signed by over 100 residents, have pressed the issue every two weeks at public Council meetings. Mayor Andy Skibitsky and Town Council members have said they are leaving the light operational for a period of time to determine its effectiveness and safety.

Skibitsky and other Council members have said they would stop answering questions from Carluccio and Encelscu saying they have answered them already.

The light was placed in order to allow children to cross Central Avenue on their way to Jefferson School and Edison Intermediate School.

The Quotes

• Carluccio reiterated several of her previous statements on the light, including recounting for Skibitsky a two-car accident that occurred several weeks ago at the intersection. Carluccio, who said the accident was caused by the light being in the middle of the street and not at the intersection, said she was repeating the story due to Skibitsky’s absence two weeks ago.
• “If we had staged this accident, it wouldn’t have been more exact of our deepest fears,” Carluccio said.
• Carluccio questioned the Council on a packet of questions town officials sent to county traffic officials regarding the placement of the light. The light’s placement had to be agreed to by the town and county during the process. Town Administration Jim Gildea answered Carluccio saying the questions have been sent to the county for comment. He did not say when the answers are expected to be sent to the town.
• Skibitsky sat silent during much of Carluccio’s comments. Towards the end of her allocated 10 minutes he reminded her that her time was up.
• Carluccio briefly outlined what she said was a near accident at the light on Tuesday afternoon. (Video of Carluccio’s description of the near accident is attached to this article.)
• “I feel like I am being terrorized by this light,” she said. “I haven’t eaten all day.”

What’s Next?

Carluccio and Encelscu and supporters, including retired police officer Greg Kasko are likely to return to the Council meeting on May 24 to repeat their concerns.