Haven't Gotten a Parking Ticket Lately?

If you've been hanging out in the parking spots on Elm Street for more than 90 minutes recently and haven't gotten a ticket, you may not be able to count your lucky stars for too long. If the Parking Bureau gets the additional personnel it's asking for in its proposed budget, there will be more meter maids (or misters) on patrol in the coming year. 

The Parking Bureau used to have four people on the beat, but one position was cut during the last budget cycle and a 25-year veteran just retired last week. 

With the reduced staff, Supervisor Karen Miller and parking attendant Lisa Pia have spread the rotation between the streets, but there's some places they're just not getting to, like the parking lots at the library and the schools. And, Miller says, it's taking longer to get to the iron mikes when the machines shut off because they're full. 

Translation: the Parking Bureau is issuing fewer parking tickets. The bureau took in $86,635 in revenues during the first half of the current fiscal year compared to $135,090 over the same period last year—a decline of more than a third. 

Perhaps more importantly, Miller says, fewer tickets means less movement, which could hurt downtown businesses. Because of the proximity of New Canaan Station to downtown, without parking patrols, "There would be commuters from two or three towns parking there," she said.  

The $53,737 increase in the Parking Bureau's budget to hire an additional parking attendant got past the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Finance is scheduled to hear their presentation March 2. 

But Supervisor Karen Miller says even if the town agrees add a new position and fill the vacancy left by the recent retiree, it could be a year before the new folks are on board and totally up to speed.