Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Warren City Council on Monday agreed to reduce the speed limit on Fourth Avenue from Pine Street to this intersection — Fourth Avenue at Laurel Street — from 35 mph to 25 mph.

Warren City Council has reduced the speed limit on Fourth Ave. from Pine St. to Laurel St.

Council made the decision during Monday night’s meeting.

Police Chief Joe Sproveri said Whirley-Drinkworks! approached the city seeking the change from 35 mph to 25 mph out of concern for its employees.

Sproveri said he reviewed what options the city has and recommended the decrease in speed limit.

“It’s all about safety for our teammates,” Lincoln Sokolski, Whirley’s president told city council, also citing safety improvements for St. Joseph School, Experience Inc. and the neighborhood generally.

“I think the speed limit on all of Fourth should be lowered to 25,” he said, calling that “planting a seed for the future.”

Sokolski said he would also like to see a lighted crosswalk sign as well as signage to indicate the change in speed.

City staff said the process of addressing both of those items is underway.

Sokolski said they’re willing to do “anything we can do to slow the speed down approaching that intersection.”

Bob Sokolski, one of the company’s founders, said he’s observed cars that “literally are barreling along” and alleged there’s only one speed limit sign on the western end of Fourth Ave. that this change will address.

“If anybody complains about it, (you’re) not taking anything away from them because nothing is there now,” he said. “I’m sure that we’re doing the right thing.”

While council made the decision Monday, the change doesn’t go into effect tomorrow.

Procedurally there’s a 10 day period from when the change is advertised before it can go into effect. Signage will also need to be ordered and delivered.

Councilman John Wortman credited the Sokolski’s for the information they provided in support of the change.

“Your thorough communication with our city staff provided an insight,” he said, of how important the change is for their business.