Changes in parking-meter hours came without warning and could screw local businesses, members of Silver Spring’s economic development committee said.
Starting July 1, drivers must wait until 10:00 p.m. before free parking kicks in at metered spaces, committee chairperson Phil Olivetti announced Wednesday night. Metered parking in Montgomery Hills will also rise from 15 to 25 cents per pop, he said.
However, committee members complained that the county council issued the changes without much consultation from the public. “This is not the way we like to see things done,” member Darian Unger told his colleagues.
Ben Stutz, legislative aide to councilmember Valerie Ervin, explained that a public hearing was held in Rockville, though he admitted the issue moved quickly through the council.
Police have begun issuing warnings, but signs describing the extended hours are only confusing drivers, committee member Marilyn Seitz told her colleagues.
“We need to get the signs coordinated so that people know what’s happening,” said Seitz, who works at the Pennyworth Shop on Bonifant Street. “Quite a few of our workers got [warnings], and they couldn’t tell it wasn’t a ticket.”
The changes will not affect parking rates at the Ellsworth Drive and Wayne Avenue garages in downtown Silver Spring. Parking there will remain free after business hours, giving downtown businesses an unfair advantage over those beyond the shopping area, committee member Marci Stickle argued.
“We need to help [small businesses], not hurt them,” Stickle said.
The committee plans to submit a letter of complaint to the county council.
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We should call Nancy Floreen. She’s always up for helping business!
Recently the local Chamber of Commerce has yet again slobbered all over Councilwoman Nancy Floreen for doing everything they want. Receiving a special award as their favorite legislator for serving the business community in addition to hefty donations to her campaign that made her narrow 4th place finish possible, Floreen tried to spin the award as some kind of prize from someone other than special interests eager to profit off of her decisions, finally embracing them with: “I am honored to have enjoyed a strong working relationship with the Chamber and am grateful to have received this award.”
The county needs a discussion about MoCo councilmembers who are too much in the back pocket of those who stand to profit directly from Council decisions, ignoring what average voters want and need from their government.
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[...] decision reversed an earlier vote to have drivers pay for on-street parking until 10:00 p.m. The extended hours would have raked in [...]