Around Town

‘Something Makes No Sense Here’: Parking Ticket Appeals

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What follows are excerpts from parking ticket appeals letters filed with the New Canaan Parking Bureau. Where available, we’ve included information on the violation for which these people were cited, in what amount, and where and when the violation occurred. ***

“I did not get a ticket or receipt—the word receipt never appears on the machine front. [The manager] at [an Elm Street business] was working with me in the store and she told me to move to the lot so I would not get ticketed on the street. So I got ticketed in the parking lot.

Around Town

‘I Didn’t Realize That It Was Touching a Handicap Spot’: Parking Ticket Appeals

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What follows are excerpts from appeals letters filed in the past month, with a note on when, where, why and in what amount the ticket had been issued. ***

Perhaps I am too stupid to use the kiosk but I have been parking in New Canaan for 20+ years without a problem and without a ticket. I really question whether the machines were working properly that day. —12:23 p.m. on March 28, $20 for unpaid space at Morse Court

***

I parked with my blinkers on, in a crossed area in order to run in and get a pick up for my father in law. I did that because I circled around for about 10 minutes and found no spots.

Government

Construction Workers Only: Town Inks Parking Deal with Historical Society, St. Michael’s

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In what town officials are calling a definitive step toward solving emerging downtown parking concerns, New Canaan is poised to secure 20 spaces in the lot behind the Historical Society for construction workers. Those spots will be specially permitted for and used exclusively by construction workers at Town Hall and the fire station, helping to relieve some problems of space availability for parking permit-holders in the Locust Avenue lot, First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said. Though some i’s need dotting and t’s crossing, the agreement should be finalized in time to take hold next week, he said. The agreement will be for six months with an option to renew, and will specify early morning to early afternoon hours, Mallozzi said. He thanked the Rev. Geoff Sinibaldo of St.

Government

New Canaan Parking Bureau Close to Buying License Plate Reader

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New Canaan parking officials soon are expected to get new technology to help them do their jobs more efficiently while sparing commuters the hassle of keeping physical permits on hand. Use of a license plate reader by the New Canaan Parking Bureau is expected to stem a steady stream of complaints about retaining all sorts of permits—hanging, paper, sticker—and to allow enforcement officers to devote more time to locations where they’re needed. “Simply, put we are going to use the ALPR [Automated License Plate Reader] technology, combined with our permit database, to go through the lots quickly, help the commuters out and you will not have to have any permit in your car at all,” Parking Bureau Supervisor Karen Miller said at a March 19 Town Council meeting, held in the Visitors Center at the New Canaan Nature Center. An account with the bureau itself already has the $18,000 needed for the reader—from Brewster, NY-based ELSAG North America—and the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday will vote on whether to approve the purchase. The Town Council voiced unanimous support for it.

Government

Parking Permit Fees at New Canaan Lots to Stay Flat

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Saying New Canaan’s rail riders have endured enough pain at the hands of Metro-North, town officials decided Friday to keep parking permit fees flat at town lots. The New Canaan Parking Commission had been “somewhat divided” in making its recommendation to the Board of Selectmen for fiscal year 2015, but “ultimately voted to keep everything flat,” Parking Bureau Supervisor Karen Miller said during a special meeting of the selectmen, held at the New Canaan Police Department. Here’s the fee schedule for annual permits:

Railroad/Lumberyard: $540
Richmond Hill: $432
Talmadge Hill: $432
Park Street: $396
Locust Street: $384
Telephone: $396
Center: $120

Selectman Beth Jones—recalling Metro-North’s difficulties, which in the past 12 months have included a collision in Fairfield, derailment with fatalities in Riverdale and seemingly endless weather-related delays and cancelations—said the rail line “has had a hard year and we did raise [the permit rates] last year.”

At least one New York City commuter agrees. Selectman Nick Williams said: “I have been a 20-year-plus commuter and I have never seen anything like this. This is an absolute disaster.”

The selectmen approved the fees unanimously.