CITY OF GLOUCESTER
TRAFFIC COMMISSION
9 Dale Avenue – Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
Robert B. Ryan, Chairman Mike Mulcahey, Secretary
MEETING MINUTES
A meeting of the Gloucester Traffic Commission was held at the Rose Baker Center for the Aging, 2nd Floor Conference Room on July 30th, 2026. In attendance were Commissioners Chief Michael Williams, John Harris, Emily Oliver and Chairman Robert B. Ryan.
In addition, Councilor Scott Memhard was in attendance.
The meeting was called to order at 6:15PM at which time all of the Commission members in attendance were introduced.
The first order of business was the approval of the June 25th, 2026, meeting minutes. A motion was made by Chief Mike Williams, and seconded by Emily Oliver. The motion to approve the minutes passed by a vote of 4 to 0.
Order of Business
ORDERED that the Gloucester Code of Ordinances Chapter 22 " Traffic and Motor Vehicles, Sec. 22-287.Disabled Veteran /Handicapped Parking.
Be AMENDED by ADDING:
Witham Street, westerly side from a point beginning 100' (pole # 846) from its intersection with Salt Island Road in a northerly direction two (2) spaces, one space Handicapped van accessible and one conventional space.
Councilor Scott Memhard opened the discussion relating a call from a constituent asking that the City's Witham Street parking area have Handicapped parking spaces as his wife was handicapped, and as such, asked that handicapped spaces be provided in the subject parking area as none existed
Chairman Robert B. Ryan pointed out that a comparable City parking area was Niles Beach where thirty (30) Resident Only parking spaces existed with two (2) handicapped spaces and that putting two spaces at Witham Street was warranted as well under ADA. It was pointed out as well that under ADA regulations for 1 to 25 parking places, one handicapped space is required. With 26 to 50 parking spaces, 2 handicapped spaces are required. Thus, with 35 parking spaces on the Witham Street parking area, the establishment of 2 Handicapped spaces was in order.
After the commission's discussion, a motion was made by John Harris, and seconded by Chief Mike Williams to approve the order. By a vote of 4 to 0, the order was approved.
ORDERED that the Gloucester Code of Ordinances Chapter 22 "Traffic and Motor Vehicles," Sec. 22-279 "Thirty-minute parking" be amended by DELETING "Eastern Avenue, in front of #18 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in the area beginning at pole #2741 on the westerly side in a southerly direction for 36 feet, two 30-minute parking spaces, clearly delineated."
Chairman Ryan stated that several calls have been made by area residents asking that the thirty-minutes parking signs be removed to provide more parking for residents in the immediate area.
The commission members were in full agreement that the restricted parking was no longer necessary, as the subject location is the former Russell's Florist shop that closed nearly 10 years ago.
A motion was made by Chief Mike Williams, and seconded by John Harris, to recommend the order. By a vote of 4 to 0, the motion passed.
With the business at hand finished, a motion was made by Chief Mike Williams, and seconded by Emily Oliver, to close the meeting. By a vote of 4 to 0, the meeting ended at 6:30PM.