John Sedota

“I like speed,” Pomfret Town Board member John Sedota said at the November meeting, as other town officials looked on in dismay.

No, no, no — Sedota was not admitting to any strange addiction. He was stating his reasoning for voting against an Osborne Road traffic study.

Pomfret Highway Superintendent Jude Gardner said a resident of the road wants the speed limit lowered from 55 mph. To lower the speed limit, a traffic study is required. Gardner has to request the traffic study from Chautauqua County, and needed town board approval to do it.

He got it — except for Sedota. The board voted 4-1 to approve the request.

“I think anyone going over 55 on that road has got to be insane,” said Pomfret Town Supervisor Dan Pacos.

Sedota made his speed comment when the vote was called. He joked he would be the one to get a ticket. Sedota also noted that it was his second-to-last board meeting. (He filled a board seat made vacant by Brett Christy’s resignation, but Mike Lee, who attended the meeting as a spectator, was elected to take the seat full-time in January.)

Town Clerk Allison Vento couldn’t quite believe Sedota was being serious, and asked him to clarify that he was voting “no” on the traffic study. Sedota affirmed his “no” vote.

“Thanks a lot, John,” Gardner said, with dripping sarcasm.