Athol Daily News – Athol Selectboard discusses winter parking at Exchange Street lot

ATHOL – Steps have been taken to address the winter parking issue in the municipal parking lot on Exchange Street, with Public Works Director Dick Kilhart presenting a proposed plan to the selection committee at its Tuesday meeting.

“The last time we were here,” Kilhart began, “we were ordered to close the lower section of the municipal garage, which we did. This area was also cleaned up, and the graffiti was repainted along with the rest. of paint we had from the Downtown Vitality group that they bought about a year ago and that we are in storage,

“This area was cleaned up, but when we found out this area was going to be cleaned up, we knew there would be people living downtown who would still have to do some sort of overnight parking.”

Kilhart said he and DPW deputy director Paul Raskevitz discussed the matter and determined that it would be possible to develop an application to be completed by area residents, along with a “nominal” application fee. If the application is approved, a sticker would be provided that could be placed on the applicant’s vehicle, signifying that they are allowed to park in spaces reserved for downtown residents.

He explained that when requesting parking, residents could receive information about the city’s needs for clearing snow from the parking area.

“They would come to you and make you understand that when they received this sticker,” he explained, “they know the city has to plow this land at 8 am or 9 am or whatever time you want. choose – or if you allow us to choose a time frame.

“Most people are up and away from work. We come in and clean this space. And if for some reason you don’t clear that space and signed this agreement, we hook the tow truck to it and pull it aside.

Kilhart said residents can move their vehicles from one location to another, as long as it allows plow operators to do their jobs

“But for the most part,” he said, “most of the people would have gone to work.”

The DPW chief said the nomination process would be modeled on that of other communities, but cautioned: “There are limited spaces there. You can’t let the whole city of Athol try to get in. You probably want to cheer on the people who live in those downtown apartments who are used to parking under that garage.

The system has worked in other communities where Kilhart and Raskevitz have worked, according to Kilhart.

“Can we really clean up the lines and the marking of the available spaces to make it really clear?” »Asked the president of the board of directors, Rebecca Bialecki. “Some of these elements are a bit faded. “

“I would normally say ‘yes’,” Kilhart replied. “But if you notice one of the roads we’ve paved this year, we can’t get paint due to supply chain issues. I’m not even sure we’ll be able to paint lines on our newly cobbled streets. The supplies are very limited and we really have no control over it. If we can do it, we will. If we can’t.… ”

Kilhart said signs would be posted to clearly designate the area used for overnight parking.

“My only other concern,” said Bialecki, “is to make this extremely affordable because the people who live in these downtown apartments are generally low income. So I would really like to make sure that this is not the case. really nothing more than a $ 5 fee.

“I don’t think you’re trying to make any money here,” Kilhart replied, “but there has to be some buy-in for the people who are going to use it. Which will happen, at least according to my experience is if there isn’t some kind of agreement where they understand that – tomorrow morning I know there is two feet of snow there and I don’t want to go move my car – the guys in town are trying to get in there and clean up that lot. “

He added that the stickers could be produced quite quickly.

Board members voted to give Kilhart the responsibility of working out the details of a proposal to submit to them for approval. The plan, he said, would be worked out by the end of the month.