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Church leaders ask Selectboard for relief as public lot becomes long-term parking
Summary
Church officials and residents told the Selectboard the public lot behind Center Church has become long-term parking with unregistered and disabled vehicles, leaving few spaces for elderly parishioners; the board asked the police chief to propose ordinance changes and enforcement options.
Church leaders and a resident raised concerns at the Selectboard meeting on Feb. 25 about a public parking lot near Center Church that they say has recently been used for long-term storage of vehicles, including unregistered and disabled cars, reducing availability for elderly parishioners on Sundays.
Aaron Bittner asked the board to discuss the issue and requested that the church’s Deacon, Bryce Daughtery, be allowed to lead the conversation; the board voted 5-0 to allow him to speak. The Deacon said the problem has arisen over the last six months and that the lot typically holds only two or three cars on Sundays because long-term parking consumes spaces. "We are not there 75% of the week," the Deacon said, adding that the church wants a compromise so elderly attendees can park nearer the building.
Selectman Marsh said part of the problem is that there are no painted lines in the lot, so drivers park irregularly and snow further reduces usable space. Jeremy Miller, who the Deacon asked about rear lot ownership, said the church owns about 0.7 acres behind the building with roughly 75 feet from the rear of the building to the lot.
Chief Rice told the board that the department has towed disabled vehicles from the lot and that he is drafting revisions to the town’s parking ordinance for the board to review; selectmen asked for a couple weeks for the chief to present proposed solutions. Suggestions discussed included striping the lot, clearer signage (for example, no overnight parking), and stepped-up enforcement.
No ordinance change or regulatory restriction was adopted at the meeting; the board asked the police chief to return with a proposed ordinance revision and enforcement recommendation.
