OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The town council chambers filled with applause Tuesday night after Council Chairman Shawn O’Neil announced the town is not moving forward on a proposal to add more metered parking.

The auditorium was packed to standing-room only with people prepared for the night’s scheduled public hearings on parking proposals that would have added metered parking on part of West Grand Avenue and some side streets near the beach.

The council removed the public hearings from the agenda. O’Neil thanked those who had given the council feedback on the issue. He said the council had also learned about errors in the process when proposing the parking, and would attempt to better inform people in neighborhoods affected by proposals in the future.

“We listened,” said O’Neil. “You elected us to listen, and we did.”

Councilors Jay Kelley and Malorie Pastor also thanked the members of the public for their feedback.

“I think I had, like, 15 emails today alone,” said Kelley. “And believe me when I tell you, it really helps to make you understand where everybody’s coming from.”

Town Manager Larry Mead invited people to speak with him if there are any issues in their neighborhood, and said he would be glad to make visit to a neighborhood to address any issues residents are having.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].