ATHOL — While you may not always see them, police officers are “walking the beat” in downtown Athol.
Police Chief Russell Kleber said an officer was put on foot patrol for an eight-hour shift Wednesday.
“Generally, when there are enough officers I will assign foot patrol for different blocks,” he said, which could be in two-, four- or six-hour increments.
Kleber believes the downtown parking meters are functioning properly and the parking clerk has been out writing tickets.
“We’re doing the best we can,” he said. “If there is a specific issue that needs to be addressed, we will hear that and take a look at it.”
Sgt. Ron Cote said Thursday that he has ordered 13 new LCD parking meters is aware of one particularly pesky meter outside Hometown Realtors at 486 Main St.
“Quarters stick in that one,” he said.
Cote said the officers on the walking beat are not only responsible for parking enforcement, they check in with the merchants at the stores open in the business district, check the doors of other storefronts, and conduct traffic and pedestrian control.
At one time, the Athol department had a bicycle division, which more quickly covered a larger area, including the downtown, schools, parks and Silver Lake and Fish Park areas. Due to budget cuts, the number of officers is down and the department is limited to what it officers can cover on foot in the Cultural Business District. Street patrols are unchanged.
The parking clerk is responsible for emptying the meters and turning over the money to the town.
Town Manager Shaun Suhoski said the meter money goes into the general receipts, “we don’t keep a running tab.”
He said annually, $11,000 to $14,000 is budgeted for meter enforcement and maintenance of the machines. He has asked the town accountant to research whether, historically, there was ever a revolving fund established for the meters. At a recent Downtown Vitality Committee meeting it was mentioned that at some time the meter receipts were used to offset costs of snow removal.
The revenue projection for Fiscal Year 2019 is an estimated $12,000 from parking meter revenue. He said $13,000 or $14,000 is generated from parking meter receipts.
Voters approved on June 11, the transfer of $12,000 from the parking meter receipts to fund the FY19 general budget.
The stipend for the part-time parking attendant (presently Sgt. Cote) is $2,500 per year. The attendant must be also be bonded. The total parking meter maintenance/attendant budget is $11,125.
Recently, the Downtown Vitality Committee posed the question of whether the revenues could be used toward a Downtown Improvement Fund to be used for improved lighting, signage, seating, general beautification, etc.
Suhoski said a Business Improvement District could be established and money could be segregated for things such as better lighting, tree replacement, street sweeping, and police control. The downside is the taxpayers would have to pick up the cost of the meter reader and maintenance of those meters.
Suhoski will discuss his findings with the Downtown Vitality Committee, and said there are questions that could be asked.
Presently, a nickel will give 20 minutes of parking. Parking is free after 6 p.m.
Mary Holtorf of the Downtown Vitality Committee said the cost of parking in Athol is “cheap” compared to other towns.
He said if there was no enforcement, there would be no turnover of the spaces for customers. He also noted there won’t be funds to turn over to the town if there is no enforcement.
The matter will be addressed again at the August 14 Downtown Vitality Committee.