The latest parking meter debate in Carbondale centers on a decision to replace meters on part of Salem Avenue with business permit parking.
Meters on Salem Avenue between River Street and Main Street are not operational. Mayor Justin Taylor said they will be moved to other areas of the city where the parking volume is higher.
Mr. Taylor owns two properties on the block, but said the decision to move meters was based on revenue, not personal interest or his friendship with other business owners.
"It's not benefiting the Salem Avenue businesses whatsoever," he said of removing the meters.
Parking meters became active in Carbondale in December, the first time since 2005. Twenty-five cents buys 15 minutes on a meter. Around the city, meters generated $15,176 in the first three months of the year, according to City Clerk Michele Bannon. Tickets generated $17,139 in the same time frame.
The decision about the meters on the stretch of Salem Avenue came after all 14 meters on the block yielded 50 cents after a week of use. After another week of observation, the meters contained about $1, Mr. Taylor said. Each meter, pole and hardware costs about $200, he added.
"That's $200 times 14 (meters) sitting down there doing absolutely nothing," he said.
The meters may not see much use because businesses on that block have parking lots and do not open until after daily meter enforcement ends, Mr. Taylor said. On that block, the Manhattan Manor opens at 5 p.m. and Royal Pizza opens at 4 p.m. Properties at 27 and 16 Salem Avenue both belong to Mr. Taylor, who said a parking lot and off-street parking are available for both. Pennstar Bank has its own parking lot; the Masonic Temple is unoccupied.
"We made the decision at the time to move (the meters) up to Main Street where they're going to get some usage," he said. "Now council is talking about putting them back in down there, however I'm not in favor of that only because it's not going to get any usage."
The council also considered adding business permit parking in that area, as well as on 6th Avenue between Main and Church streets and on Main Street between 7th and 8th avenues. Mr. Taylor said the permits could cost $100, but councilman Francis Lagana hopes that won't be the case.
"I feel that he has to charge the same thing he charges at City Hall," which is $30 a month, Mr. Lagana said, noting that at $100 a year, permit holders would pay less than 50 cents a day for parking.
"I'll be the first one to buy a parking spot," he said. "I have no problem if we're going to permit parking, but I think we should have the same price all over town."
He plans to discuss the issue of consistency with meters and permits at the next meeting on May 20.
Contact the writer: rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter