The Town Council is considering extending the
FROM PA GE A1 parking meter season so that it begins May 1 and ends Columbus Day weekend.
Currently, the town charges for parking at downtown streets and town-owned pay lots from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Earlier this year, Police Chief Dana Kelley approached the Town Council with the idea of extending the parking meter season as a way for the town to generate more revenue.
Finance Director Diana Asanza said this past season, the town grossed about $398,000 from parking meters and town pay lots.
Kelley said at a town workshop Tuesday night that although staff originally proposed extending the season from May 1 to Columbus Day weekend, he was recommending the council begin by extending the parking season two weeks in May and two weeks in September next year.
He said there may be some objections from local business owners, and on cold or rainy days later in the fall or earlier in the spring, meters may not net much money.
Local business owner George Kerr, who runs a private pay parking lot, said the town should extend its parking meter season, just as many of the downtown businesses extended their season beyond Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. He said if private lots were generating money beyond the Memorial Day to Labor Day season, the town should as well.
“This is long overdue for our community,” said Kerr. “This is a nice easy way to generate revenue.”
Although no vote was taken, councilors discussed the matter and came to the general consensus that they would like to extend the parking season so that it begins May 1 and ends Columbus Day weekend.
Council Chairman Shawn O’Neill said the town has discussed the possibility of extending the meter season for years.
“The only way to know is to try,” he said.
O’Neill said the council will consider input it receives from the public before making a final vote on the matter, and could consider a different time frame in the future.
Councilor Kenneth Blow said he would like the Town Council to discuss parking permits for town residents so they wouldn’t have to pay for parking downtown.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].
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