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Residents press for better enforcement, temporary Sunday handicap spaces near Middleborough town hall
Summary
A resident asked the commission to pursue enforcement and temporary Sunday-only handicap parking in front of two churches near town hall; commissioners said they will consult the police and DPW and may take the request to the select board.
A Middleborough resident told the Commission on Disability the new handicap spaces near town hall are often occupied by drivers without placards or disabled plates and asked the commission to seek enforcement and consider temporary Sunday-only handicap spaces in front of the Unitarian and Congregational churches.
Valerie, who identified herself as a resident, said the two recently added spaces near the churches are sometimes used by drivers without authorized placards and that a pickup truck regularly parks across two spaces on Sundays. "We have people using the spaces who do not have cards, placards, or plates," she said, describing the recurring problem during Sunday services.
Commission members said enforcement falls to the police department and that the Department of Public Works could consider pavement markings to make spaces more visible. A commission member said she will "speak with the police chief about enforcement" and will contact Chris Peck, the DPW director, about repainting the wheelchair symbol or striping the curb.
Residents proposed labeling spaces for handicap use only on Sundays between roughly 8 a.m. and noon; the commission advised taking a specific proposal to the Select Board, which has authority to add or reassign on-street parking. A member advised collecting counts and a recommended number of spaces from both churches; the resident said they expect to provide that data within two to three weeks and the commission suggested the resident return at the Feb. 26 meeting with details.
Commissioners also discussed accessibility for people who use rear-entry wheelchair vans and noted that some existing curbside configurations make rear-entry access difficult when another car is parked behind the van. One commissioner said moving or rearranging spaces so there is clear room behind a rear-entry van could help.
The commission did not adopt a formal order; it recorded directions to consult the police chief and DPW director and to help the resident bring a specific proposal to the Select Board for action.
