Government

Town: Mostly Positive Feedback on Change to Paid Parking on Elm

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Town officials say last month’s switchover to paid parking on Elm Street downtown has gone as smoothly as could be expected, with several compliments on the change as well as some frustrations and complaints. The Parking Bureau at Town Hall is getting “a lot of positive feedback with people coming into the office or calling saying that this was a good program, a good initiative that we started,” according to Parking Manager Stacy Miltenberg. “We are seeing space availability, we are seeing movement on Elm Street, and turnover,” she said during the Nov. 5 regular meeting of the Parking Commission, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “So the initiative is accomplishing what the goal was.

Government

Town Upholds $30 Ticket Issued for Parking on the Grass

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Town officials last week upheld a $30 ticket issued to a New Canaan woman who parked on the grass near Mill Pond. During an appeal hearing before the Parking Commission at its Sept. 3 meeting, Millport Avenue resident Daphney Legrand said she’s lived in town for 10 years and has parked her car in the grassy area in the past. “Second of all, I still see people parking there and they don’t have a ticket,” Legrand said during the Commission’s regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. Legrand added that there’s no signage specifically prohibiting a motorist from parking on the grass.

Government

Town Upholds Two $30 Tickets for Parking in Town Hall Lot

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Officials this month upheld two $30 tickets issued to a Norwalk woman for parking at Town Hall for more than one hour without a reason for being there. Karen Gallagher, a former New Canaan resident of 30 years, told members of the Parking Commission at an appeal hearing that she was “unaware that the Town Hall lot was ticketed during the summer.”

“I’ve parked [in the Town Hall lot] multiple times in the past and have never gotten a ticket,” Gallagher told the Commission at its regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “Now, this one time, I get two tickets.”

Parking Manager Stacy Miltenberg outlined the reasoning for each of the tickets given on June 17. “The first ticket was for not being in Town Hall,” she said. “There is clear signage that says Town Hall Parking Only throughout the lot.”

Miltenberg added: “The second ticket was given because there is a one hour time period for the lot, which she went over.”

Commission Secretary Kevin Karl and member John Clarke voted 2-0 to uphold the two tickets.

Government

Town Upholds $80 Ticket Issued for Obstructing Crosswalk

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[The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Karp Associates.]

Officials last week upheld an $80 ticket issued to a Norwalk man for parking on a New Canaan crosswalk. Mark DelGuidice told members of the Parking Commission during an appeal hearing  that he was issued the ticket (at 12:49 p.m. on June 9, a Monday) after dropping off a Grubhub order and couldn’t find space for parking. 

 “I was waiting for the car in front of me to leave so I could move up in that spot, but I couldn’t wait any longer so I grabbed the order, ran inside as fast as I could, and when I came back I had a ticket,” he said during the Parking Commission’s Aug. 6 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. During the hearing, Commission Secretary Kevin Karl questioned whether there were “no other spots in town.”

“Did you drive around or only check for spots that were available on the roads?” he asked. DelGuidice said every town parking space, including the disabled spots, had been taken.

News

Paid Parking on Elm Street on Track for End of August

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The previously purchased parking machines—part of a plan to transition Elm Street and sections of South Avenue to a pay-for-parking system—should be installed by the end of August, officials say. The Parking Commission received an update on the new paid parking initiative at its Aug. 6 meeting. Parking Manager Stacy Miltenberg told the Commission that “the machines are scheduled to arrive in late August” and “the hope is to have them installed by the end of the month.”

“Right now, we are working on preparing the concrete bases so everything will be ready for installation when the machines arrive,” Miltenberg told the Commission at its regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “We are also working on updating the signage on the streets and lots.