Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parking Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Island commuters ask Bristol to lower off‑season marina parking; council refers ordinance change to solicitor
Summary
Island residents urged the council to reduce an off‑season marina parking fee they say is burdensome; the Harbor Commission recommended $125/month (down from $150), council asked staff to prepare an amended ordinance for readings in January and recommended removing cash as a payment option.
Denise Diorio Javery, representing year‑round island commuters, asked the Town Council to lower the off‑season marina parking fee, saying the current $150 monthly rate is a hardship for working residents who rely on ferry access for jobs, medical care and school trips. "The $150 a month is a hardship for many of the islanders," she told the council, saying the amount annualizes to about $1,800.
Harbor Commission members recommended a $125/month fee as a compromise. Harbor staff reported 23 spots were made available last season and seven were rented late in the season when the program started; usage was limited because the program began late. Council members debated payment methods (finance staff recommended checks over cash to ease reconciliation), possible flat‑rate or alternative structures for the off‑season, and the need to analyze costs associated with enforcement, snow removal and administration before a final rate is set.
The council voted to refer the proposed decrease and the off‑season extension to the town solicitor to prepare an amended ordinance for the regular process. Council also signaled it expects the amended ordinance to return for first and second readings in January and asked staff to remove cash as an accepted payment option.
What’s next: The solicitor will draft amended ordinance language. If adopted after readings next month, the ordinance changes would take effect in January.
