Adams to Lift Parking Meter Enforcement During Holiday Season
ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved the town's annual holiday parking enforcement suspension last Wednesday.
Between Thanksgiving and Jan. 2, anywhere with a parking meter will now have free parking. The on-street overnight parking ban, which the board voted to reinstate earlier this month, will still be in place during this time.
"The process is the same as always, which is we just instruct the police department to enforce controlled parking in those areas," said Town Administrator Jay Green. "It'll give the parking control officer a little bit of a break."
This year, according to Green, the meters will be covered with burlap bags, as opposed to plastic bags as in years past. He said the town is doing this at the request of Selectman Joseph Nowak.
"Last year, I brought that up because our town has a ban on plastic," Nowak said. "And I just thought it didn't seem right for us to be using plastic covers when we're banning plastic bags."
While the measure initially was supposed to begin on Black Friday, Selectman Richard Blanchard suggested Thanksgiving Day as the official start date to include the holiday. The rest of the board members agreed.
"Why not one day sooner," he said. "I mean, I doubt the parking enforcement officers going to be out there Thanksgiving Day."
In addition to switching to burlap bags, the town will decorate the bags to fit the festive theme of the enforcement suspension.
"And I can tell you that grounds foreman [Steve] Skrocki wanted to do something to jazz those up, to make them a little bit more holiday themed," Green said. "So he was attempting to put red bows on each meter as well as the burlap bags. He doesn't think he has enough, but he's going to paint them red."
• Also discussed at the meeting, the board unanimously approved a facility use request for Adams Holly Days, sponsored by Adams Community Bank, on Sunday, Nov. 28. The event runs from 2 to 6 p.m. and will feature hayrides, Christmas activities including the tree lighting and refreshments.
• The board unanimously voted to endorse a letter supporting the Forest Legacy Program. The program, created in 1990, is a voluntary program that provides grant funding conservation of privately-owned forests.
• The board briefly discussed the release of calcium carbonate into the Hoosic River on Nov. 16. Green read a statement from the Northern Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee explaining the resolution of the situation.
• The board went into executive session to discuss the potential purchase of property on 69 Park St., the former Red Carpet Restaurant.
Tags: parking meters,
