The writers at the HV News Lies found it interesting that it was not disclosed by Yancy McArthur that one of the stop signs happens to be located on the southeast corner of his yard. Rather than have to mow around it he wants it gone and is using his position as a fire commissioner (and FORMER supervisor) to be rid of this burden.
His basis for the removal of the signs is that it may affect the response time to fire calls, however, he cannot provide any data to support how the stop signs are affecting the time it takes to arrive at a call.
Here are some facts that the readers should consider:
1) There are stop signs at all three access points to the firehouse: Bill Reynolds & Roosevelt Road, Bill Reynolds & Haviland Road, Wright Ave and Rt. 9G and Franklin Road. In addition, there is a traffic signal at the intersection of Haviland Road and Rt. 9G. Why aren't the other intersections where there are traffic devices being considered for removal if these traffic devices are concern for the response time for the fire department?
2) Per the Roosevelt #3 website (http://www.rooseveltengineco3.com/history.html?callyear=2008&callmonth=12) the call log indicates the following:
2008- 100 calls
2009-45 calls
2010-9 calls
2011-7 calls, 6 of which were mutual aid calls, which means they were either assisting another fire district or on stand-by.
Is this dwindling number of calls even enough to substaniate the argument that the stop signs are impeding the response time to fire calls?
3) Per NYS Law, authorized emergency vehicles do not have to come to a complete stop per the following:
Per NYS Law: Section 509-G . Section 1104:
§ 1104. Authorized emergency vehicles.
(a) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when involved in an emergency operation, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, but subject to the conditionsherein stated.
(b) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may:
1. Stop, stand or park irrespective of the provisions of this title;
2. Proceed past a steady red signal, a flashing red signal or a stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;
3. Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as he does not endanger life or property;
4. Disregard regulations governing directions of movement or turning in specified directions.
4) Bill Truitt and Yancy talk about the 'hundreds of people' that are complaining about the signs in question, yet they have no basis of who these complaintants are. It's very convenient to claim that there are 'hundreds of people' that support their request, but ironically neither Yancy or Bill Truitt could produce one of these people at the town board meeting to speak on behalf of the request to remove the signs. The writers at the HV News Lies speculate that more than likely these 'hundreds of people' are no more than mere products of their mental invention. People have bigger fish to fry than complaining about a stop sign that adds another 5 seconds onto their morning commute.
The conclusion of the writers here at the HV News Lies is that Yancy is using his position to sway town law to his favor rather than just being honest and telling the public he's just too lazy to mow around the stop sign.
*Food for thought: Apparently Yancy has a penchant for introducing himself as the 'former' supervisor of Hyde Park. Perhaps someone should ask him when he uses that introduction why isn't he the CURRENT supervisor...