Hanover car owners will have to dig down in their pockets for additional spare change after July 1 to meet the increased cost and additional hours of parking meters.
In order to raise revenue to cover the $40,000 deficit in the parking district, Hanover's Board of Selectmen agreed to increase the rate of 10-hour meters in the Marshall Lot, located across the street from Fleet Bank and behind Foodstop, from 25 cents to 50 cents an hour, and extend the operational hours of all town meters from 5 to 6 p.m., according to Chairwoman Marilyn "Willy" Black.
From July 1 to September 1 people will only receive warning notices if they let their meters run out before 6 p.m., Black said. "We won't ticket cars until September," Black said.
Chairman of the town's Parking and Transportation Advisory Board William Baschnagel termed the three months an "education campaign."
Baschnagel said the ordinance attempts to "price parking to match the convenience of it," referring to the fact that non-metered parking areas are in remoter locations.
"I don't think it's going to affect the community an awful lot," he said.
The ordinance also increased the amount of non-meter fines, according to the Valley News. Fines for parking with left wheels to the curb and over-staying in limited zones will increase from $10 to $15 and late charges will go from $20 to $30 on July 1, the Valley News reported.
Black said "in many ways it will help," especially as a deterrent for "people who park where they're not supposed to."
Black said the town hopes to raise $30,000 to $35,000 with the new fees and will also make some spending cuts in order to break even next year.
The new fees will even help the business district, because since the parking and business districts coincide, businesses would pay extra fees to cover the deficit, Black said.
But several managers and owners of downtown Hanover business expressed dissatisfaction with the new fees.
There is "no way in God's green Earth that this is going to help the retailers," said Georgia Wishnefsky, the owner of Home Decor.
"Businesses don't have to pay for the deficit," she said.
She said she thinks the new fees will put more restrictions on shoppers, and Hanover merchants will not be able to compete with outlying shopping areas that offer free parking.
Wishnefsky said meters in town are not clearly marked, and people are already confused about when to put money in them. Because the town has no plans to mark meters with the times of operation, "people [are] like sitting ducks," she said.
Maureen Dowd, one of the managers for Everything But Anchovies, said "it's going to be a real drag for my employees."
She said some night-work shifts at the store begin at 5 p.m. Previously the night crew did not have to pay for parking, but the new ordinance will make them pay, she said.
But Eric Roberts, the director of operations for Molly's Balloon, Lui Lui's and Jesse's Restaurant and Tavern, said "maybe at first it'll have an effect, but after that people won't notice it at all."
He said he feels the ordinance will effect retail stores more than restaurants because "people will have to eat," but they might not want to spend money on parking for quick shopping trips.
Baschnagel said he realizes the new fees will mostly affect employees of businesses, because the majority of people who park in the Marshall Lot are employees of Hanover businesses.
Patty Field, one of the owners of Lou's Restaurant, said many employees may choose to park in short-term parking areas instead.
According to Baschnagel, the town worked hard to make sure customers using short-term parking would not be affected by the changes.
"Neither one of these issues will impact normal shoppers," he said.
The board also tabled another ordinance to ban skateboards, roller skates and in-line skates on sidewalks in Hanover's business district last week, according to the Valley News.
Although the Board planned to discuss the motion in 30 days, Black said "since the meeting there hasn't been a problem."
She said the reason for considering such an ordinance is that skateboarders provide a potential "hazard for pedestrians."
