Mayor Lloyd Plans to Veto New Parking Ordinance

new parking policy was only minutes old Monday night when Mayor Tom Lloyd announced that he plans to veto the measure.

His announcement drew some applause from those in the crowded council chambers.

Council approved the new ordinance by a 3-2 vote with Council President Kim Lusardi, Vice President Laurie Malka and Councilman Drew Lehman in favor and council members Joan Hodson and Eugene Barilla opposed.

Lloyd said after the meeting, under borough law, he has 10 days to file a letter to make the veto official. He said it would take a supermajority vote of council to override the veto.

Under the ordinance, only the police desk officers and police secretary can excuse or dismiss parking tickets, taking away the power to excuse tickets from elected officials and other borough employees.

Lloyd said he doesn't think the police secretary should have to issue tickets and also dismiss them, citing that the position already requires a "full day's work." He also said that the ordinance doesn't allow for extenuating circumstances, such as people who honestly forget to move their cars on street sweeping days or have a group of people visiting their home.

He also called the ordinance "poorly worded."

For instance, the ordinance states that borough employees would face disciplinary action and possible termination for dismissing a ticket and elected officials would be fined $25, plus the cost of the dismissed ticket. Lloyd said, technically, that also includes the district judge, who has the power to dismiss tickets above the municipal level.

"I would be embarassed if I had written that myself," the mayor said.

The proposed policy will allow permit parking tickets to be excused only if:

• A new permit is purchased because the resident forgot to renew or obtain one.
• A person claims their permit was in the vehicle but not visible to the ticket writer.
• The resident has a valid guest permit that was not placed on the guest's vehicle upon arrival.

Meter parking tickets will be excused only if the meter was verified as out of order at the time the ticket is issued.