2026-04-08 – Special Traffic Commission Meeting – Meeting Minutes

File Name: Special-Traffic-Commission-Meeting-Minutes-146-Court-Street-04082026.pdf
File Type: PDF (234 KB)
Related Meeting: Special Traffic Commission Meeting (April 8, 2026 6:00 pm)
Committee: Traffic Committee
Category: Meeting Minutes

Download Special-Traffic-Commission-Meeting-Minutes-146-Court-Street-04082026.pdf

BROCKTON TRAFFIC COMMISSION

Wednesday, April 8^th, 2026

6:00 P.M.

MINUTES

The Traffic held a Special Traffic Commission meeting via Zoom at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8^th, 2026.

Present were Traffic Commission Members: Traffic Commissioner Captain Mark Porcaro, Deputy Fire Chief Joseph DePasquale, DPW Commissioner Patrick Hill, Retired Fire Chief Kenneth Galligan, Director Stephan Hooke, Councillor Green.

There being a proper quorum, the meeting was called to order by Traffic Commissioner Captain Porcaro at 6:02 p.m.

NEW BUSINESS

146 COURT STREET

Requested by: Jake Bettencourt, Knollmeyer Building Corp.

Request/Issue: We plan on setting up scaffolding around 146 Court Street in 2 phases to complete masonry repairs. During Phase # 1 we are planning on setting up scaffolding on Freight Street and it will run the length of the building. This scaffolding will span over the sidewalk and into the parking spots that sit along the side of Freight Street. Phase # 2 is planned to have scaffolding sit at the front of the building and be located on the sidewalk along Court Street. (Traffic Commission members please see attachments)

Discussion: Jake Bettencourt from Knollmeyer Building Corp was present and stated we are proposing the use of scaffolding and which would require a sidewalk permit for work at one 146 Court Street. It’s for masonry repairs. It’s one hundred percent cut and repoint of all the brick on the exterior façade. The reason for the work is that a number of the units throughout the building are experiencing significant leaks, and we’ve been tasked with mitigating that. The scaffolding located on Freight Street, as you mentioned, is part of phase one. So the sidewalk itself spans six foot ten inches. The side the scaffolding spans out seven feet, which would interfere with the parking spots located on Freight Street. Based on Google Earth and what from a site visit it looks like 11 spots that would be obstructed. Now that would be phase one. Duration for phase one would be roughly four months. It would take roughly a month to do the two elevations for scaffolding. Phase two would take roughly three months. The sidewalk span is nine feet. The scaffolding again would only be seven feet off of the building and we are proposing the need for a sidewalk permit for both locations. DPW Commissioner Hill asked if the sidewalks will be completely unusable, or will there be the ability to walk under the scaffolding? Mr. Bettencourt stated that the sidewalks will be unusable, especially on Freight Street, because we have to do work down at ground level. The front portion of the building, there’s not that much work, so it would be entirely obstructed as well. But we could then change it. We could create a walkway there that you’d probably be able to get around the scaffolding. So they would both be obstructed to the ground. Deputy Fire Chief Joseph DePasquale asked what the timeframe of the project would be and Mr. Bettencourt stated we have roughly two hundred calendar days for the job. That’s the full duration of the job. The goal is to set up on Freight Street first. It’s going to take them probably about a month to erect the scaffolding, probably about two and a half months to do the work, and then it takes less time to disassemble. Then same situation on the front of the building. It’s going to take a little bit of time to erect the scaffolding. The work there is going to be much quicker than it is on Freight Street, given the size. And then, demobilization of it won’t take that long. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated so the question now is parking on the west side of Freight Street, north from Court Street. There’s quite a few cars that park the entire length of the street. What’s going to happen with those cars that use that for parking on the street? Mr. Bettencourt stated that’s a good question. That is part of the reason why this, this meeting’s important, and I was going to recommend… Or I don’t have any recommendations at this time for that. I’m not sure if you have any recommendations or ideas for the area. Retired Fire Chief Galligan asked if it’s possible to use those parking spaces along the street at night, but clear them out of there during the day? Mr. Bettencourt stated yes, if it’s acceptable with you, then I’d say yes. We’re only going to be there until probably 4:00 PM, so after then if they’re unit owners or if car owners are comfortable parking close to scaffolding, it would be up to them. But I’m not sure if you would require jersey barriers to be placed on the outside of the perimeter of the scaffolding. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated so the scaffolding supports would be up on the sidewalk or out in the gutter? Mr. Bettencourt stated that they’d be out on the road. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated so having somebody parked there might be kind of dangerous. Mr. Bettencourt stated that’s why I was wondering if you require jersey barriers there. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that one thing we may consider as the traffic commission is a temporary no parking on the west side of Freight Street. We may have to think about that. From Court Street northerly to the back of the building. He further stated that you’re basically telling us you need access to that whole side of the building while you’re working of which Mr. Bettencourt stated correct. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated and we think that if the supports for the scaffolding are out in the street, and if somebody tries to park there and hits one of those scaffolding, we could have a mess. Mr. Bettencourt stated it can be a hazard, yes. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated so for everybody involved, we probably should prohibit parking on the west side of Freight Street from Court Street northerly to the end of the building. Have you discussed that with the building owners at all? Mr. Bettencourt stated that we’ve discussed it with the property management group. Retired Fire Chief Galligan asked what happened? Traffic Commissioner Porcaro asked what did they tell you as far as where their residents are going to park at night? Mr. Bettencourt stated I was under the assumption that those spots were not necessarily for residents. So there are 72 units in the building, and there are 72 deeded spots in the parking lot. Traffic Commissioner Porcaro stated that my assumption is that there are probably a lot of residents, where do you think they are going to go at night? Have you spoken to the building manager about this? Alternative parking? Mr. Bettencourt stated that he hasn’t mentioned anything at this time. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that on Court Street, on the south side of Court Street from Commercial Street going east all the way down to Pleasant Street, that could be the de facto parking that they would lose on Freight Street, particularly now where we don’t have any winter conditions to deal with. I think we have ample parking on that side of Court Street. So if we prohibit parking on Freight Street, they could be allowed to park on the south side of Court Street for the spaces they lose on Freight Street. DPW Commissioner Hill stated or they could just reach out to the BAT bus and try to get how many spots that were available on the street to accommodate that many spots in the parking garage over on Centre Street. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that if we take that parking away from them, the traffic commission has designated a temporary place where they can go. Up to them to find their own spot, but we’re not throwing them out to the wolves. Traffic Commissioner Porcaro stated that we will give you some ideas and you circle back with the building manager. If we end up prohibiting parking on that side for the benefit of the scaffolding, it’ll be up to between you and the building manager to kind of figure out where they’re going to park. We’re giving you some ideas and some options, and there are some options in that immediate area, but ultimately, it’ll be between you and the property manager to figure out where those people are going to park, if they are residents of that place, you know. Retied Fire Chief Galligan stated at night, Freight Street on that side of the street is filled with cars. During the day, maybe not so much, but at night it is, so just be aware of that. He further stated that the other thing is in Boston, I notice when they do this, they string construction lights along the scaffolding along the street. Are you going to light up that scaffolding area along Freight Street? Mr. Bettencourt stated If you require temporary lighting, then that’s something we can provide. If you require said jersey barriers around it, that’s something we can provide as well, and then signage, that’s whatever signage is necessary. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated my opinion is I think you should light up the staging. Put some construction lights along the staging. When you move up above the ground floor, is it possible to open up under the staging so pedestrians can walk under, or should they just be kept out of there permanently? Mr. Bettencourt stated they should be kept out of there permanently. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that Freight Street should not be a problem, but Court Street, you’re going to have to work with the building management, because that sidewalk gets a lot of people right there, especially going in the entrance. And if they can’t walk on the sidewalk, they’re going to be walking in a travel lane on Court Street going west. There’s two lanes there. One’s a straight through lane right in the gutter, and the other one is a left turn lane into Commercial Street. Mr. Bettencourt stated that one idea that we had for Court Street, um, was a lot of the work that’s on the ground level can probably be done off of ladders. So, and then we could put up walkthrough scaffolding on the ground level with overhead protection. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated I’m visualizing like what I see down in New York City. Put scaffolding up and the pedestrians can walk under it. So you may want to think of that, particularly on Court Street, because those people will be walking right out in the travel lane on the road if they can’t use the sidewalk. Freight Street’s not so much of a problem. Court Street would definitely be a problem. You may want to think about putting a Jersey barrier or two at the corner of Court and Freight Street so that nobody hits that staging on the corner and the last one we already talked about. As far as the traffic commission is concerned, we may have to think about putting temporary no parking on the west side of Freight Street. DPW Commissioner Hill stated I think we have to do that with, especially with the businesses down the end with the trash trucks. If cars are parked on that opposite side of the road, there’s the, you know, maybe a truck, trash truck will be able to get down there, but there won’t be two lanes. So I think you have to prohibit it from Court Street all the way to the end. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that personally, as a member, I would support no parking up against that staging for the length of the building, knowing that we’re going to allow them to park across the street on Court Street if they want to or find their own places. That’s my thought. Deputy Fire Chief DePasquale states that he agrees because you had said earlier that it was going to project out a foot beyond on Freight Street. Correct? Mr. Bettencourt stated that it’s only going to be a few inches. Deputy Fire Chief DePasquale stated but it will be past the gutter line. Mr. Bettencourt stated correct. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated the contractor may want to put a couple of Jersey barriers along Freight Street to protect his staging and that would also force people not to park there if you had a couple of four or five Jersey barriers, you know, space them out. Mr. Bettencourt stated that that would be a good idea. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated so we got some Jersey barriers along Freight Street. We’re going to prohibit parking on the west side of Freight Street from Court Street northerly, and you’re going to string lights along the staging. Mr. Bettencourt replied correct. Retired Fire Chief Galligan further stated knowing what goes on down in this area, you want to be aware of the fact that some screwball may want to try to climb the staging. So that’s something you’re going to have to keep an eye on. Mr. Bettencourt stated that the staging’s going to be entirely netted just to prevent any debris when they’re doing the work from getting out of it. The stair tower that we have that allows access will have an enclosure built around it with a lock. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated and if you put lights on string, string lights along Freight Street, that’ll stop people from trying to get under there to camp out for the night. That is a problem down in that area. DPW Commissioner Hill stated that I would hang the lights at a height where they’re not accessible for people to grab. Because people will grab those lights, unplug them, and then use the power. Mr. Bettencourt stated that we can put them up at a see- at the second level. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that I’ve seen these lights along staging in Boston. When I was down in New York, I saw them there. I think it’s common in your industry that you want to light up that area at night just so that there’s no problems of which Mr. Bettencourt replied correct. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated but that Jersey barrier on the corner, I would think if your staging is out in the street, you’d want to protect your staging, particularly where there’s trucks making crazy turns and whatever in there. If you put some Jersey barriers along Freight Street, that would prohibit parking. On the Court Street side, if those people can’t use the sidewalk, you’re going to have to consider these people are going to be walking out in a travel lane on Court Street. So at some point, should you put some Jersey barriers on Court Street so they don’t get hit by cars? And if you did that, we’re going to lose a lane of traffic. So if a car was heading west on Court Street and wanted to take a left into Commercial, once they get by your building, they can pass that car on the right to go under the railroad bridge. So if from Freight Street for about 100 feet it was only one lane or a lane and a half with Jersey barriers that protect people that are walking in the street, that might be a good safety thing. If you can open up that sidewalk as quickly as possible on Court Street, that whole problem goes away. Mr. Bettencourt stated I think it could be a possibility to do the work at the ground level off of ladders, and then install scaffolding with walkthrough section on the first level. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated that I think that’s a great idea, because that sidewalk gets a lot of foot traffic, and the main entrance is right there going in. And the people going west on Court Street are driving right in the gutter. He further stated that the construction company that’s going to be doing this work, I think it’s going to be very important that you notify the police department and the fire department of an emergency number that can be called at 2:00 in the morning if somebody hits this staging or something drastic happens. Mr. Bettencourt stated understood, we can provide that. Traffic Commissioner Porcaro instructed Mr. Bettencourt to email the contact information to the Secretary of the Traffic Commission, Michelle Yaffe and she will pass the contact information along to the Traffic Commission members. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated this should be done by next, what? Winter? You should be out of there by the winter? Mr. Bettencourt stated that we’re targeting November, roughly the middle of November. Retired Fire Chief Galligan asked Mr. Bettencourt if he puts up a sign on your scaffolding that says, “Sidewalk closed”? Mr. Bettencourt replied We can for the one that’s going to be closed, yes. Retired Fire Chief Galligan stated I think liability-wise you should do that.

VOTED: TO TEMPORARILY PROHIBIT PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF FREIGHT STREET FROM COURT STREET NORTHERLY TO THE END OF THE BUILDING.

Upon duly motion made by Retired Fire Chief Galligan, seconded by DPW Commissioner Hill, the motion carried by a hand vote; 6 in the affirmative.

Motion was made by James Sweeney, seconded by Director Hooke, to adjourn the meeting. All were in favor. Meeting adjourned at 6:24 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle Yaffe

Secretary to the Traffic Commission