Council weighs new parking signage and updates to solicitation rules

Council members spent substantial time discussing two related ordinance issues: town-hall parking enforcement and a proposed update to the town’s solicitation ordinance.

Agency staff presented options for town-hall parking signage, ranging from per-space designated signs to broader 'Town Hall and Police parking only' signs with restricted hours. Committee members suggested starting with entrance signage and adding decal-based enforcement if needed, while staff cautioned that an ordinance would be required to enable fines, towing or formal enforcement.

Separately, staff introduced a draft solicitation ordinance intended to modernize a 1959 statute. Councilors asked how the draft would treat small-scale fundraisers and vendors (for example, children's lemonade stands, school fundraisers or Girl Scout sales). Staff noted the draft includes exemptions for certain nonprofit and fundraising activities and clarified that festival vendors typically are processed through event managers and a separate peddler/vendor permit process that may involve health-department review for food vendors.

On Elliot Avenue, staff proposed a one-side (south-side) parking restriction and a 30-foot no-parking segment at the Mulberry intersection to open sight lines; members asked for maps and a site walk to confirm exact limits before formal adoption.

Councilors asked staff to share sign templates and ordinance language, to refine exemptions for festivals and youth fundraisers, and to return with a recommended ordinance and maps for the Elliot Avenue change.