Diane Walden is reporting for The Columbia Paper at its September 10 meeting, the Copake Town Board took up the matter of needed speed reductions in several spots around town. Back in July, the board received a letter from Stephen Sanborn, a resident who pointed to the increased number of part-time residents, who have now become full-time residents and the ramping up of commercial activity as the state gradually re-opens. He said those factors are responsible for the overall surge in the amount of traffic in the vicinity of county routes 7 and 7A in West Copake. His concern was not just about the dangers that come with speeding, but also the noise. In an email to the town board, resident Susan Ochshorn echoed Sanborn’s observations about the noise level and traffic safety adding, “the steady stream of cars and trucks”…are “a constant presence as motorists violate the speed limit of 35 mph with impunity.” Supervisor Jeanne Mettler discussed the problem with resident Deputy Joseph Kilmer, who suggested that the 35 mph speed zone through West Copake be extended further south to Camp Pontiac. Board member Stosh Gansowski agreed that extending the speed zone may help, but not lowering the limit even more, noting, “35 is really slow, 30 is really, really slow.” Mettler said a resolution extending the speed zone would be prepared in time for the October 8 meeting. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.