TOPSHAM

Topsham selectmen will consider making temporary traffic changes at the Main, Winter and Elm street intersection permanent at their Thursday night meeting.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the municipal building.

As a test, temporary changes were made at the intersections after several traffic studies were recently conducted in the Lower Village. The idea behind the changes was the reduction of backups on Main Street, often caused by northbound vehicles lined up to turn left onto Winter Street, where there is no turning lane. The changes, which began in September, were:

• Left turns from Main Street onto Winter Street have been prohibited.

• The last block of Winter Street, approaching Main Street, was made one-way.

• Left-turning vehicles have been redirected 250 feet north to the intersection of Main and Elm streets, where there is already a left turn lane and left turn signal.

Chairman David Douglass said Tuesday that the board conducted a workshop last week regarding the changes, and heard from six or seven residents who spoke in favor of the changes. There were still improvements suggested, he said, in order to make permanent changes to the traffic pattern in that area.

Also on Thursday:

• There will be a public hearing on the proposed warrant for a special town meeting scheduled for Dec. 6 to consider an emergency moratorium ordinance on medical marijuana storefronts. The warrant also has a question on it asking Topsham voters to again adopt a six-month moratorium ordinance on retail marijuana establishments and stores, and retail marijuana social clubs. The town adopted the first six-month moratorium in May and can extend it another six months.

• The town is also considering changes to the town code regarding allowing official business directional signs in colors other than green. The state and federal government have developed new rules requiring blue sign backgrounds.

• Following the Nov. 7 election, selectmen will also elect a board chairperson and vice chairperson.

• Prior to the board meeting, at 6 p.m., selectmen will conduct a workshop with ION Networking regarding the town’s computer system.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

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