Monday, September 28, 2015

Parking Meter Story In Milford Daily News

The parking meters that were removed from one side of East Central Street last week made the Milford Daily News over the weekend. In this story, FDP Executive Director Lisa Piana discusses how Partnership members have been brainstorming about the parking issue and working on solutions over the past year. All members are welcome to join the discussion at a general meeting or by contacting the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.


Franklin:  Parking meters going, perhaps permanently

    By Mike Gleason/Daily News Staff
    Posted Sep. 25, 2015 at 9:22 PM 

    FRANKLIN - The town has removed parking meters along downtown East 
    Central Street, a move that could be made permanent.

    Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said the meters were being removed 
    to accommodate ongoing roadwork taking place in the center of town. 
    He said the status of the meters after the work is completed is in question.

    "There's been a proposal to not (put the meters back), but it hasn't been 
    approved," he said.

    Nutting said the police department would be enforcing a two-hour parking 
    limit where the meters once were. That regulation, he said, would remain 
    in effect until the Town Council adopts more permanent rules.

    According to Nutting, East Central Street meters will be the only ones 
    taken out this year. The Main Street meters will be removed to coincide 
    with roadwork there next year.

    Franklin Downtown Partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana said she 
    believes businesses downtown would welcome the change.

    "We've been meeting on the subject for over a year," she said. "I think 
    most of the businesses are very excited - this allows customers to not have 
    to worry about feeding the meters."

    Piana said she had seen the town remove the meters from the Artistry 
    Kitchen restaurant side of the street, and that the remainder of the East 
    Central Street meters would be taken out over the next week.

    "It's my understanding that the meter person will still come around to 
    make sure vehicles don't park for more than two hours," she said. "The 
    reason for that is to ensure people don't park there for the train station."

    Piana said it was her belief that the two-hour limit would ultimately be 
    refined based on the location of the spaces.

    Mike Gleason can be reached at 508-634-7546 or 
    mgleason@wickedlocal.com. For news throughout the day, follow him 
    on Twitter @MGleason_MDN.