Parking manager outlines operations, staff and plan as she prepares to retire

Stacy, the parking manager, briefed the Charter Revision Commission (Group 1) on the relationship among the parking bureau (department), the parking commission and the First Selectman’s office and described day‑to‑day operations, staffing and recent changes to permit policy.

Stacy said the parking bureau consists of three employees — the manager plus two enforcement officers — and that the bureau implements enforcement and permit programs while the parking commission hears appeals and makes policy recommendations. She described three primary lots that serve employees and commuters (Locust, Center School and Richmond Hill) and said that employee permits were at one time charged and later made free to prioritize street spaces for shoppers and visitors. Stacy reported the lumberyard commuter lot is full and that the town has reduced but not eliminated long wait lists; she estimated roughly 50 people remain on the wait list for some commuter lots.

She told commissioners she will retire on Feb. 27 and said Kevin O'Connor will be the incoming parking manager. Commissioners raised organizational questions: whether the charter or an ordinance should describe the relationship between the commission and the bureau/department; whether the website language should be standardized (parking department vs. parking bureau); and whether the manager should be referenced in charter text. Tucker said the term "bureau" is an older turn of phrase and favored switching to "parking department." Commissioners asked staff to draft clarifying language for the full CRC to consider at the next meeting.

Next steps: the commission asked the Group 1 drafter to prepare a short template sentence describing the bureau/department‑commission relationship for review at the Feb. 11 meeting when the parking commission is scheduled to appear.