Jay schools' lights to flash 15 mph
BY DONNA PERRY
Special to the Sun Journal

This publication is presented for "Classroom Use Only."  Its intended use is to stimulate and aid in discussion and role playing within a classroom setting.

JAY—The flashing lights on Route 4 near the schools are off now, but soon they will be blinking a new speed limit during the opening and closing hours of school.

Selectmen voted 4-1 this week to end the six-month debate with the Maine Department of Transportation over the 25-mph speed limit displayed from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. Chairman Parker Kinney cast the dissenting vote.

The town and state have been at odds over the speed limit since MDOT traffic engineer Bruce Ibarguen mistakenly gave verbal approval to erect the 25-mph signs. After Ibarguen realized the area was a school zone, he apologized to town officials and said the state would pay to change the speed limit flashed on the signs to 15 mph.

Town officials said if the state wanted to control the signs they could reimburse the town $6,700 for the signs and do whatever they wanted with them. The issue drew a letter from Col. Malcolm T. Dow, chief of the Maine State Police, who said the 25-mph limit was unenforceable and asked the town to accept Ibarguen's apology and let the state change the signs.

Kinney told selectmen the lights had been shut off since the state erected 15-mph black and white signs indicating the area as a school zone last week.