Morristown resident questions no-parking signs near Red Oak School; council says signs conform to ordinance

Stephen Armington, a Morristown resident who lives at 16 Cutler Street, told the Town Council on Feb. 11 he is displeased that no-parking signs were installed in front of his house across from Red Oak School without public input or notification.

Armington said the change has forced some neighbors to park on their front lawns and that the signs did not resolve the problem that triggered them, which he described as a school bus parking in front of the Jewish Center and pushing the parent pickup lane into the roadway. He asked the council to explain the reason for the parking prohibition and to consider rescinding it if there is no continuing justification.

A council member responding to Armington said the signs were reinstalled after a lapse: they had been posted previously and were removed sometime between 2013 and February 2016. The council member said the school requested the signs to address the bus and queue issues and that the signs now are in compliance with the ordinance as written. She invited Armington and his neighbors to discuss potential ordinance changes if they want on-street parking restored during school hours.

Council President said the police and town staff looked into the matter after receiving complaints, and encouraged residents to work with council members if they want to pursue a change in the ordinance or a different traffic solution. No vote or formal direction to change the signs was made at the Feb. 11 meeting.