First Selectman, Police Chief, Superintendent Discussing Traffic Issues on Green Hill/Copse

An accident last week at the intersection of Green Hill and Copse Roads near the town's high school, middle school, and one of its elementary schools has prompted discussions between the town's first selectman and police chief and the first selectman and school superintendent. 

First Selectman Fillmore McPherson said Monday night he has already discussed the issue of traffic safety before and after school with Police Chief Jack Drumm and that they are evaluating different options. 


"We are discussing the feasibility of having an officer there to direct traffic," McPherson said. He said the chief is trying to determine how that would affect his available resources and, if it is possible to have an officer there, trying to determine how best to use that officer while ensuring the officer's safety. 

"I just spoke with him about it earlier today," McPherson said. "Whatever we do, we plan to do it thoughtfully." 

McPherson said he would be discussing the issue with Madison School Superintendent Thomas Scarice as well. 

Whether to add stop signs, or other traffic calming measures, such as blinking lights, would be up to the town's traffic commission, McPherson said. 

McPherson said that the issue of traffic at that intersection is a longstanding one. He noted that his daughter was involved in an accident at that intersection when another driver ran a stop sign about 20 to 25 years ago. "The other girl came shooting out of Copse Road, right in front of her. Mandy was coming down Green Hill." 

McPherson received the call from police letting him know his daughter was involved in an accident, and he rushed to the scene in time to see her being loaded into the ambulance. He said his daughter's car collapsed right up to the passenger compartment, and that his daughter was transported to be treated, but was not injured. 

Seth Klaskin, a Madison parent who serves on the school board and is the Democrat's candidate for the first selectman's office in the next election, said he is concerned about the intersection as well.

In his capacity as a concerned parent, he said he had a conversation with the town engineer as to whether it would be feasible to re-engineer the intersection with safety in mind. 

The town engineer responded that any measures involving traffic calming or reworking the intersection would have to be taken up and considered by the town's traffic commission.