Adams May Start Parking Ambassador Program
ADAMS, Mas. — Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco has unveiled a draft Parking Ambassador Program that would harness volunteers to survey parking meters and possibly write tickets.
Mazzucco told the Board of Selectmen at its workshop meeting Wednesday that he may have found a solution to solve the town's longtime meter reader problem.
"I have heard from a lot of folks who are irked by people that don't feed the meter, and I think this is an experiment worth trying," Mazzucco said. "If folks want to spend the warmer months in Adams just wandering around downtown and chatting with people and writing a few tickets it could work. ... Might be a nice thing for couples to do during the summer."
The Selectmen, business owners and residents alike have all shared frustration about unpaid meters and police taking time reading the meters.
Mazzucco said it is not financially viable to hire a parking clerk to walk the streets and write tickets because the town usually brings in $11,000 annually off the meters and would have to double collections to break even.
He added that the police simply do not have the manpower to read the meters.
"They do what they can do but they have a lot on their hands," Mazzucco said. "We generally have two officers out on the street any given day and I don't know how much time we want them to spend checking meters."
The ambassadors will be trained, interviewed and appointed. They would also receive safety vests and maybe a flashlight and whistle.
Mazzucco said the program is less about making money and more about having a downtown presence making people aware that they must feed the meters. He said because it relies on volunteers, he wants it to be as easy and relaxing as possible.
"We may only see it in the warmer weather and I have no illusion that some volunteers would want to be out there at night, or when it is snowing or raining out," he said. "I wouldn't mind if they just gave out warnings. The goal isn't to make money ... but just make people aware."
Mazzucco said the ambassador would check in with police, have a set schedule and possibly fix jammed meters to free up time for the Department of Public Works.
The police would still oversee collecting the money.
The ambassadors would also be a great addition to the downtown who can reach out to visitors, he said.
"They will probably work during the months when we have a lot of visitors in town and on the bike trail," Mazzucco said. "They could be out there greeting people and giving them advice on where to eat."
Selectman Jeffrey Snoonian said his only concern were possible confrontations between motorists and parking ambassadors.
"I have seen people go toe to toe with a policeman with a gun and a Taser," he said. "I have seen some vicious fights over parking tickets."
Mazzucco said ambassadors would probably go through conflict-resolution training and possibly be equipped with a radio to contact police if a confrontation arises. He said if an issue arises, they can also just leave.
Selectman Richard Blanchard wondered if there would be any liability. Mazzucco said they would be covered by town insurance.
Selectmen Arthur "Skip" Harrington said he felt the town would only get applicants if there is a salary and that it was important to have consistency.
"I think it's I great we are going in this direction ... but I am not sure you will get volunteers or ones doing it for the right reasons," Harrington said. "I am a little concerned about it and I rather pay someone to do it."
Mazzucco said if they cannot find volunteers or it does not work they can stop the program.
Tags: ambassadors, parking meters,
