On Tuesday, Peterborough Select Board members agreed to gather speed information and look into installing measures to help slow down traffic on Union Street after discussing a petition from Union Street residents Matt Waitkins and Robert Wood that garnered 39 signatures.

Waitkins and Wood suggested setting up a speed-collecting device and discussed options such as putting up a sign welcoming drivers to the “Union Street Neighborhood” and painting narrower road lines. They also encouraged the Select Board to think about making the five-way intersection where Elm, Union, High and Vine streets meet look nicer. Waitkins asked about putting planters with flowers in the center of the triangle, which he believes will also help slow traffic. 

Waitkins explained that they hope to collect data so they can work on long-term solutions to control traffic speed. He proposed turning off the flashing speed sign on the collection device to gather more-accurate measurements, because people slow down after seeing the sign and they want to see how fast people are driving naturally.

When asked about police, Wood said, “I personally don’t think more police presence is a long-term answer.” 

Selectman Bill Kennedy brought up the current traffic-control measures on Union Street, including speed bumps, and asked if Wood and Waitkins felt those helped slow cars.

“I don’t think they’re effective,” said Wood. 

Assistant Town Administrator and Public Works Director Seth MacLean said as well as learning more about speeding patterns in town, the effort could incentivize the town to deal with some issues regarding stormwater flooding on River Street and the Elm Street Bridge. 

“From my perspective there’s an opportunity,” he said.

The Select Board also approved the Monadnock Folklore Society to apply for a grant through New Hampshire State Council on the Arts to restore the town piano.

Lisa Sieverts, who was representing the society, said the piano has been in the Town House since the dedication of the building, and explained that this is the type of project the council is funding. She said the society would fundraise the remaining cost.

She said there are “historic, artistic and, frankly, sentimental reasons to restore the piano,” and “It’s been used for contra dances for probably 100 years.”

The historic piano was significantly damaged while it was being moved from the stage in the Town House. Sieverts said it’s currently broken but playable.

In another matter, MacLean announced that the town had won a national award for the Main Street Bridge project – American Public Works Association’s Public Works Project of the Year: Historical Restoration/Preservation for projects ranging from $5 million to $25 million.

MacLean plans to travel to San Diego later in the year to accept the award.

“Big team effort on that one and I’m very proud of it,” he said. 

The Select Board also agreed to waive the town’s purchasing policy and allow the town to work with civil engineering firm Hoyle Tanner as a project partner for the proposed fire station instead of going to bid. This will also allow the town to work with Hoyle Tanner directly rather than have them fall under the scope of the architect.

“This allows us to work directly with who we already know on a project they’re familiar with without going through that process,” said MacLean. 

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