October 1, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Midland Park Simple solutions sought to improve intersection Poor visibility at the corner of Frank- lin and Erie avenues in Midland Park is often blamed for the number of accidents at the busy intersection. Dirt mounds, trees, rocks, bushes and an electric utility box are cited as contributing to the poor condi- tions. Now borough officials are renewing efforts to improve those conditions within budgetary constraints. Installing a perma- nent traffic signal, often suggested as a solution, would have to be done by the bor- ough at its expense, which officials have said is out of the question. Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan said last week that the town is looking into three improvements that may help the situation. “Lowering the obstructions may make it easier to see,” O’Hagan said. One change, he said, is to provide a dif- ferent street light fixture at the corner so that the light is directed at the intersection to better illuminate the area. He said PSE&G has agreed to install the new fixture. The second improvement, O’Hagan said, would be to change the upright position of the utility box on the northwest corner to a horizontal position so it does not obstruct visibility for lower vehicles. Borough Clerk/Administrator Addie Hanna said Ridgewood Signal, which controls the box, has agreed to check if the existing wiring could accommodate the shift. Hanna said previously that Ridgewood Signal esti- mates it would cost $20,000 to reroute the wiring if the box were to be replaced, a cost that would have to be borne by the munici- pality. According to Ridgewood Signal, Hanna said, the box cannot be removed altogether because underground wires are also involved. Lowering the box, from 3 ft. in height to 9 in. should help with visibility, O’Hagan said. The third improvement, the mayor said, would involve taking down an exist- ing earth mound and cutting down bushes. He said a survey would have to be done to determine whether these obstructions are on private property or in the right of way. Resident Susan Rovi noted that a section of sidewalk is missing at the corner and said it should be installed for pedestrian safety. “We’re taking this project one step at a time and seeing what improvements we can make to benefit the intersection,” O’Hagan said. The borough installed the blinking sig- nals, and more recently the LED flashing stop signs in an effort to warn residents of the dangers at the intersection, which sees several accidents a year. Additional signage has also been installed. Parking on Maltbie limited The Midland Park Borough Council last week adopted an ordinance to limit parking on Maltbie Avenue. The block-long street is north of Franklin Avenue and has only five houses on it, some of which are partially in Ridgewood. The move came at the request of resi- dents who had complained of the inconve- nience and safety issues caused by Ridge School parents as they pick up and drop off their children. The elementary school on West Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood is around the corner and only feet away from the northern end of Maltbie, which divides Midland Park from the Village of Ridgewood. “Safety has been a concern for both children and adults of Midland Park and Ridgewood, and this needed to be addressed,” said Franklin Avenue resident Loraine DeLuca. She told the council she (continued on page 20)