Council to Introduce Ordinance to Restore 2-Hour Free Parking

Common Council will introduce an ordinance Tuesday night to reinstate two free hours for shopper parking in Park & Shop lots 1, 2, and 3 on Deforest Avenue and the lower level of the Tier Garage. 

Council approved amendments to the city's parking ordinance in November and again last month that approved a fee schedule to institute a paid shopper parking program in the Hill City. But council failed to pass the companion ordinance which would allocate funds to purchase and install the mechanism to collect the money. 

Therefore, Municipal Court Judge Donald Bogosian is dismissing parking tickets issued in the four lots from November 11, 2010 until July 18, 2011, essentially creating a parking holiday in Summit until the new ordinance can be approved in September. 

Parking Services Manager Rita McNany said the approximate revenue to be reimbursed by the city will be $13,500.

"We have no choice," said Mayor Jordan Glatt about reinstating two hour free shopper parking. "We have no way to collect. We’d end up providing free parking forever."

Council will also consider a resolution to authorize a Joint Purchasing Agreement with the Borough of Chatham, Borough of New Providence, and Township of Millburn, for the purchase of an Automated Brine Maker. 

Brine is water saturated with salt. Millburn Township Administrator Tim Gordon said the brine can be applied to the street before an oncoming storm and it helps retard the build-up of snow and ice. Additionally, the brine can be mixed with the salt and it will make it more effective against the ice and snow on the roads.

While the machine would be shared among the aforementioned municipalities, it would be housed in the Summit Public Works Facility on Chatham Road. 

The machine will also be equipped with software that will track daily and seasonal data and distinguish between users for accurate account of use.

Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. at city hall.