MECHANIC FALLS — A delegation of Yates Street residents asked the Town Council on Monday to allow limited on-street parking in their neighborhood.
Resident Mike Garey said although No Parking signs have been posted on Yates Street for years, the restriction has been generally ignored on the short side street that runs between Pine Street and Highland Avenue, particularly by visitors.
Garey acknowledged that the street is very narrow and that residents generally park off-street in short driveways that leave visitors no alternative but to park along the street.
“I’ve lived there 30 years and never had an issue with it until last week,” Garey said.
About a week ago, responding to a complaint about cars parked on the street, Police Chief Jeff Goss reminded Garey that the street is posted and his department has no choice but to enforce the parking ban.
Garey suggested that the ban be lifted to allow parking along the odd-numbered side of the street.
Council members were receptive to the request and directed Town Manager Koriene Low to determine what might be the best solution and what needed to be done to bring it about.
Low said she would meet with Goss and Public Works Director Scott Penney for advice. She said she believed any change would require a public hearing and the council agreed.
In other business, the council signed the warrant for a vote on the $2.4 million budget for 2016-17. It will be held June 14.
The council also named John Hawley as a sanitary district trustee until June 30, 2017, filling the remainder of Roger Guptill’s term.
The council appointed Darryl Gibson to the Recreation Committee and accepted the resignation of Jeremy Judd from the Planning Board. Low said she would have a replacement for Judd for the council to consider at the June meeting.
The council also approved a renewal of the Silver Spur’s bottle club license.
Low said that the Five Corners renovation project had run into a slight snag that will delay start of the project until late summer.
Councilman Lou Annance said plans for Community Days on June 3 and 4 are proceeding well and there has been a great deal of interest shown in the parade.
Councilman Nick Konstantoulakis reported that Saturday’s dinner put on by the Mechanic Falls and Minot historical societies had drawn 58 customers and raised over $500.
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