Council Addresses Concerns About Traffic Near Charles H. Bullock Elementary School

Only a week ago, a shouting fest broke out at a public meeting called by Montclair Councilor Renee Baskerville to discuss how the new $35 million Charles H. Bullock Elementary School will affect parking, traffic, and safety in the neighborhood around it.

Again and again, residents who live near the school - set to open in September at 55 Washington Street - expressed their skepticism over promises from government officials that their concerns would be addressed.

But a much more conciliatory atmosphere prevailed at a Township Council meeting on Tuesday night, at which councilors approved several measures related to trafffic around the new school.

On Wednesday, Dr. Barbara Weller, the school's principal, said that she's looking forward to working with the neighborhood and that the school has had an active Community Connections committee at work since January.

"We understand that the school represents a change for the neighborhood. We want to make a positive difference for everyone, whether they have school-age children or not," she said. "The PTA has created a new vice-president's position for community outreach. Deirdre Malloy, who has stepped up to fill that role, spoke at the Council meeting last night.

"We're eager for the community to see the school, which was built with high-quality materials and designed with respect for learners, and to engage with us to enhance learning for all of our children," she said.

Among the items addressed at Tuesday night's meeting:

1) An ordinance to prohibit parking on the easterly side of Miller Street, the southerly side of Fulton Street, and a portion of the westerly side of New Street was withdrawn.

2) An ordinance to provide for one-way traffic on portions of Hartley Street and Fulton Street was amended so that it does not include Fulton Street, and then was passed.

3) An ordinance to provide for restricted parking on a portion of Fulton Street was amended so that restrictions are in place only when school is in session, and then was passed.

4) An ordinance to establish a school bus loading zone on Washington Street was passed.

5) An ordinance to provide for two-hour restricted parking on portions of Washington Avenue was passed.

In general, changes were made to various ordinances "at the behest of the community," said Mayor Jerry Fried.

And, for the most part, residents said they were satisfied.

Even so, at least some residents are still gathering signatures on petitions so that traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps might be implemented on New Street and in other parts of the neighborhood surrounding the school.

Councilors reminded residents that petitions only get them "in line" to be evaluated for traffic-calming measures.

Overall, Malloy said that everyone would need an abundance of patience going forward.

"Quality of life and safety are valid concerns," said Malloy, who offered her help to councilors as they work with the community to ease the transition once school is in session.

The school, formerly the Rand Elementary School, is now named after the first director of the African-American YMCA that once stood on the site where the school has been built.

Weller had hoped to offer tours of the new school over the summer. But, so far, she's been forced to cancel every tour that's been scheduled.

When will they be allowed?

"It all depends on receiving the permanent certificate of occupancy and we have no word on that," Weller said. "It is 'small stuff' that is holding up the certificate of occupancy.

"We cannot have non-Board-employee adults or any children in the building without it," she said. "Whoever created the quote 'don't sweat the small stuff' needs to reconsider!"