BUSINESS OWNERS WANT METERS GONE
EMPORIUM
By Alex Davis Endeavor News

The driver of this truck was parked on borrowed time Thursday afternoon. Emporium retailers have asked borough council to consider doing away with parking meters as a courtesy to what downtown businesses and customers are left.

A long-debated issue is back on the agenda of Emporium Borough Council, with no clear resolution in sight.

Business owners this month made another push to persuade Council to remove the parking meters as a means of encouraging more people to shop locally.

No action was taken at Monday's meeting, but members did agree to consider the request.

"We've looked at every possible avenue," Borough Manager Don Reed said. "We're certainly not making any friends (by keeping the meters)."

Merchants report that customers are unhappy that they have to deposit coins in the meters, which are located along Fourth and Broad streets. It gives potential customers an incentive to shop somewhere other than Emporium.

Joel Caldwell, owner of Emporium Pharmacy and Subway restaurant, has been a consistent critic of the parking meters. At Monday's meeting, Caldwell recommended a return to the token system, a program once managed by the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce.

Reed explained that the Chamber would distribute tokens, worth the same amount as coins, to customers. After the borough collected the tokens from parking meters, the Chamber would reimburse the borough for that amount.

"Financially, at best, we have a break-even situation with our parking meters," Reed conceded.

Meter revenue covers wages for the meter officer/attendant, calibration, repairs and maintenance. In 2007, the devices brought in about $6,400. Revenue was also derived from approximately 400 parking tickets issued last year.

One benefit of the parking meters is that they tend to create convenient parking spaces, since long-term parkers - including apartment dwellers and in some cases merchants and store employees themselves - shy away from metered spaces.

Mary Kay McLean, owner of the Aroma Bakery and Cafe, suggested that the meters be removed for a six-month trial period.

Another option would be to offer free parking for a certain period of the day, such as 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Last year Council discussed eliminating the meters and establishing areas where drivers could park if they use a borough issued pass, but no action was taken.

In other business Monday, Council:

• awarded a street-paving contract to New Enterprise Stone and Lime Company of New Enterprise for $66,556. Paving includes West Seventh, North Walnut, East Second, Pine, East Third and West Garden streets. Three bids were submitted.

• voted to place stop signs at Fifth and Popular streets because of visibility limits for drivers.

• announced that a meeting about upgrading streetlights downtown has been set for 3 pm on Saturday, May 17, at the Borough Building.