Over the course of the past few months, the proposed roundabout drew criticism from both hospital officials and neighbors who were concerned over issues that ranged from the traffic circle intruding on the hospitals parking lot to the problem it may present for delivery trucks.

At Tuesday’s meeting, council members were offered two options which included the roundabout and an improved traffic signal - featuring turning lanes and turning arrows in order to ease congestion at the intersection.

Prior to the council’s vote, Commissioner of Public Works Skip Scirocco requested that council members choose the improved traffic signal option over the roundabout - sighting concerns over the circle’s size and the effect it could have on the hospitals parking lot.

“The city is trying to be a good neighbor to the hospital by recognizing its significance in the community and they’ve come out very strongly against the roundabout,” Mayor Scott Johnson said.

City Engineer Paul Male said he favored the roundabout because of its safety benefits.

The council later voted unanimously in favor of moving forward with the traditional traffic signal.

Their approval of the traditional signalized intersection terminated what would have been the city’s first roundabout.

Earlier in the evening, Steve Godlewski, of Creighton Manning Engineering, presented both options before the council. He said the city was required by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to at least consider the roundabout as an alternative when making their decision.

Godlewski, who helped engineer the traffic circle in Glens Falls, said that numerous studies performed on roundabouts have proven them to be safer intersections for pedestrians and vehicles.

The intersections that were changed from traffic signals to roundabouts saw a 60 percent total reduction in all accidents, an 82 percent reduction in injury accidents, a 45 percent reduction in pedestrian accidents and a 100 percent reduction in fatal accidents, according to Godlewski.

Aside from the reduction in accidents, roundabouts were also found to reduce air and noise pollution and energy consumption.

Scirocco said there were other intersections located in the city that the council would consider for a roundabout in the future.

The estimated cost of the traffic signal is $1.4 million, which is $600,000 less than the cost of the roundabout. The reconstruction will also include improvements to water lines and sidewalks. The city will be required to pay five percent of the cost, while the remaining balance will be paid through federal and state funds.

Construction on the Church Street intersection will begin in spring 2009 and is scheduled for completion in fall 2009.

In other business:

• Council members voted 4-1 to amend contracts with Synthesis and SD Atelier Architecture to allow the companies to continue designing the indoor recreation center at the proposed South Side Recreation field.

• The council voted unanimously to allow Mayor Johnson to sign contracts with the bands scheduled to perform at Saratoga’s All-American Celebration on Friday and Saturday.

Friday’s performances include: Jeff and Becky Walton and Tim Wechgelaer; April Marie Music; Dry Bones; Ray Pashoukos and the Spa City Band.

Saturday will feature performances by Rick Rourke & Lost Wages in Lillian’s Lot, Jonathan Lorentz on Division Street, Sirsy at the Adirondack Trust Company and Bluesology on Caroline Street.

• Ron Kim announced an informational meeting with the public, local officials and downtown businesses to discuss complaints received concerning noise ordinances.

Kim said he has received concerns about noise ordinances from residents around the Saratoga Springs downtown area and also from business owners in the area.

The meeting was scheduled for Thursday, June 19 at 2 p.m. in the City Council chambers and discussed noise rules and the city’s role in enforcing violations to the code.