Parking Meters To Be Bagged For Six Months

From August 1 through the end of January, all town parking meters—except restricted areas like handicapped spaces and fire zones—will be bagged.

In other words—free parking.

The unanimous council vote during its July 7 council meeting followed the announced retirement of current parking enforcement officer, Sydney Brookes, and also reflected an earlier downtown business survey’s findings that all but three business owners wanted the meters removed completely.

The six-month trial period will offer enough time to study the impact of free parking on downtown businesses, Mayor Cerino told the council. By not replacing the parking enforcement officer, there would be little loss of revenue from bagged meters.

If, for some reason, the perking meter bagging has a negative impact, the council will reconvene over the matter in February, 2015.