County supports effort to reduce speed limit by Kendall Jr./Sr. High School
KENDALL – The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday joined growing effort to have the speed limit reduced in front of the Kendall Jr./Sr. High School.
Legislator Ken DeRoller, R-Kendall, spoke to members of the Kendall Board of Education on Wednesday evening after the Legislature’s session earlier that day.
“It’s a major safety concern,” DeRoller told the Board of Education.
He said he and Legislator John DeFillipps, R-Clarendon, received a petition with 358 signatures from Kendall residents, seeking a speed limit reduction by the school.
“The Orleans County Legislature supports a safer road with a reduced speed limit and a double line,” DeRoller said.
The Legislature passed a resolution asking the state Department of Transportation to reduce the speed limit from the current 50 miles per hour on Route 18 in front of the school.
The Legislature also asked the DOT to eliminate the passing zone in the area and have double solid line striping on Route 18 from Route 237 to Norway Road.
“We are in the fight with you to get these changes,” DeRoller said.
Kendall Town Board members on Tuesday evening approved a resolution in support of the change. DeRoller said he hoped the Kendal Lions Club and the LEO Club at the high school would also write letters in support of the lower speed limit.
Board President Nadine Hanlon said Assemblyman Steve Hawley is “on board to get the speed limit reduced.” She said Hawley has already approached the New York State DOT, which is opening a former study done on the site.
“We will continue to pursue the issue,” Hanlon said. “We appreciate the letters.”
School leaders plan to meet with DeRoller and Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata to compile all letters in support of the change. The package will then be sent to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, state lawmakers, and the DOT commissioner.
In other business, the Board of Education approved the creation of an Elementary School Honor Society. Elementary principal Sharon Smith said the Kendall Elementary Student Council has been gathering information to determine criteria for membership.
“They think (inductees) have to be all 100’s,” Smith said of the students, who want to set the bar high for membership, but she noted tongue-n-cheek, “We are trying to temper them a little.”
Smith said it is likely sixth-graders will be the first inducted, perhaps during ceremonies in February. Fifth-graders would be inducted at the end of the school year and then inductions would be held in a regular cycle.
