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. Member Marley Thackray recused herself from voting, stating she knew the appellant.
Parking Enforcement Officer Michael McCargo, who issued the tickets, detailed the sequence of events.
“The lady parked her vehicle at approximately 12:53 p.m. and exited her car two minutes after,” he said. “She then walked past the Town Hall side entrance towards the Town Hall steps and took a right onto Main Street. Shortly after, I gave the car a ticket for not being in Town Hall.”
McCargo continued: “At 2:06 p.m., I issued the overtime ticket as the car had been parked in the lot for over an hour. At 2:20 p.m., the woman returned to her vehicle. Upon seeing the tickets, she decided to come into Town Hall and walked straight to the Parking Department. She asked why she had received the tickets and then wrote the two appeals.”
While discussing the tickets, Karl said that he thinks “this is a clear example of when you cannot park in Town Hall.” This led him to vote to uphold the ticket.
To Karl, “more than anything, this situation is a learning opportunity.”
If a citizen is in town hall for legitimate business that lasts over 60 minutes (for example attending a town council meeting) would that result in a ticket? What are the hours of enforcement?
No one would ticket a citizen for attending a Town Council meeting because, by Charter, that is considered punishment in itself.
Haha. Well played, Mike.
Ha!
Having long served on the Council, consider me duly punished. And perhaps being a glutton for punishment, I look forward to being re-elected. I tend to concentrate on the bright side of things but certainly appreciate the humor and try to introduce some at opportune times during the occasional tedious TC mtgs.