City Clerk Marcey Wisman likes the idea of downtown parking permits in New Albany, but is opposed to waiving unpaid tickets for those who purchase a pass.
Wisman made her concerns known during Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting, reading aloud a letter she drafted questioning whether Mayor Doug England’s administration realizes the ramifications of waiving outstanding tickets.
“No one is ever happy about paying a parking ticket, but to change the rules to benefit a few makes it even more difficult to justify the need to pay to many others who receive them,” Wisman said.
The board is waiting for a final draft to be approved by City Attorney Shane Gibson before voting on a resolution that would create parking passes for residents who live downtown.
The board already had approved the idea of the parking program at an Aug. 12 meeting, when Deputy Mayor and Director of Development Carl Malysz said England intended to have outstanding parking tickets of downtown residents expunged if they purchased a pass.
The permits likely will cost $100 a year and allow residents to park on city streets in the downtown area.
The downtown boundaries where residents can park are still being determined, according to Matt Denison, president of the board.
“We still need to define the exact area,” Denison said, adding the board likely will vote on the resolution next week.
He said the parking stickers will probably arrive next week, as well.
Wisman prefaced her speech to the board by saying she is pleased that parking permits will finally be available for downtown residents, yet she accused the administration of having a “knee-jerk” reaction to a few complaints.
“Your office will not be written up by the State Board of Accounts, mine will and your office will not have to deal with the many residents demanding refunds, mine will,” Wisman said.
The clerk’s office and the traffic officers in charge of writing tickets were left out of the parking-permit discussion, according to Wisman.
“To void the outstanding tickets of these residents is unfair to all the individuals who have paid their tickets, and for the administration to do this without consulting me is unfair to my staff,” she said.
Denison told Wisman the administration would take her comments into consideration over the next week as they put the final touches on the resolution.
In other news
• A reminder that the New Albany boat ramp will be closed beginning at 9 p.m. Friday through 12 a.m. Sunday for the Labor Day concert scheduled for Saturday at the city’s amphitheater. River Road will be closed from East Sixth Street to the amphitheater from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. Several local bands are scheduled to play at the free concert, which is sponsored in part by the City of New Albany and The Tribune. For more information about the event, call 812-948-5333.
Floyd County
New Albany City Clerk disagrees with waiving outstanding tickets for downtown parking passes
- Floyd County
-
-
Greenville town manager hired, incensing silenced crowd
Richardson threatened to have the town marshal clear the gym, but decided against it.
“I am asking people out there to stay out of it. This has nothing to do with you. You elected us to represent you.”
But that only go the crowd more incensed.
“You ought to be run out of town Talbotte,” yelled one resident. -
New Albany council opposes two low-income developments
Councilman Greg Phipps said the measure was changed because there could be “some legal issues” with the way it was originally written. He said regardless, such a resolution that targets low-income developments intimates underlying stereotypes to the community even if it’s not the intention of those who supported the measure.
- News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 7, 2012
-
Students get time out for good behavior
-
Student sues to wear breast cancer bracelet
An Indiana eighth-grader sued his school district in federal court Monday for the right to wear a bracelet promoting breast cancer awareness with the message “I (heart) Boobies.”
-
New Albany house destroyed by fire
The fire department arrived within six minutes, but the fire had already made its way out of the garage and across the attic. The homeowners heard explosions from the garage area.
-
Body found in cave may be missing Georgetown man
Conservation Officer Jeff Milner said they believe it is Eve based on evidence found at the scene.
-
Council considers opposing low-income developments
Councilman John Gonder said he supports a system that would allow the city to cap sewer credits for low-income housing and give preference to the New Albany Housing Authority.
He conceded his wife does sit on the housing authority board, but believes the city should give favor to the entity when it comes to low-income lodging because it has to meet federal guidelines. - News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 6, 2012
-
New Albany ‘in the process of deciding’ riverfront schedule
Several parties have expressed interest in helping with planning events and Gahan said “I want to encourage” an inclusive group to manage the program. He added his administration wants to press for more shows at the downtown farmers’ market stage off Market Street as well.
- More Floyd County Headlines
-
