Dedham Select Board Votes Not To Renew Parking Meter Contract

DEDHAM, MA - The Dedham Select Board at its meeting last week voted unanimously not to renew the contract for what had been termed smart parking meters in Dedham Square, citing numerous consumer complaints.

Robert Matthews, a member of the financial team of meter company MPS spoke before the board Thursday night about what he called "a legacy decision," saying he believed there were misperceptions about the parking meters.

"I think I understand the culture of Dedham," Matthews said. "I've been working with some of the stakeholders involved for the past two or three years prior to the MPS system coming to life."

He explained that MPS entered into a public-private partnership with the town a few years ago for a three-year contract. However, because of the pandemic, he said the company had been prevented from turning the meters on until June of last year.

"We entered into an agreement with you for three years," Matthews stressed. "Now it looks like there is a decision whether or not to extend our contract for three years. Instead of that, I would ask you either to postpone that vote. Or alternatively, just let us finish out the term that both parties invested in, because we're only 10 months into that term."

He noted that "we're very aware that there's been some communication challenges" about the use of the meters, problems which have been brought up at past Select Board meetings. "There's a trend towards decreasing violations and increasing compliance."

The previous meter system made about $30 per space per month on average, Matthews said, noting that the MPS meters garner about five times as much. He said that the operating system is very similar to the E-ZPass electronic toll system. This system includes a "pay by plate" feature that tracks license plates.

MPS provides an app that allows customers to pay the meter fare without ever touching the device, he added. He also called the vehicle's license plate "your permit to park for life in Dedham."

"It's impossible to get a ticket in Dedham if you just pay the meters within the two hours that you stay there," Matthews said.

Although he admitted that the system could be better, MPS has hired parking ambassadors at its own expense to teach people how to use the meters.

"I just feel like we've been very vilified by some of the social media, which I know is beyond your control," he told the board. "I don't feel like we've been heard by everyone, so I wanted to take this opportunity to express our side of it."

Town Manager Leon Goodwin confirmed that the contract was for three years and recommended that it not be renewed. Previously, he said Dedham Square had a kiosk system that "wasn't functioning to the needs of the town." After a study was conducted in 2018, a three-year contract was signed in June 2019, which is set to expire on June 30.

"That was all pre-pandemic," he said, noting that there were delays in the installation that prevented the meters from becoming operational until last June. "I think the causes of those are debatable."

Goodwin noted that his office has been "inundated" with complaints about the meters.

"Not just complaints about having to pay for parking," he explained. "Because nobody likes paying for parking. - let's face that."

What was concerning to him was the "operational errors" with the system.

"Just this past Wednesday, we've dedicated our deputy police chief to being our parking hearing officer because the volume was so incredible," he continued. "He held, I believe, 37 hearings in a matter of two hours. He had well over a hundred one Wednesday, but this past Wednesday he had 307, 29 of whom had handicapped placards."

The town also hired a parking enforcement officer to assist customers and ran public information campaigns on how to use the meters on the town website.

The people with placards never should have received tickets, Leon said. The recipients had to come into town for a hearing they should not have had to experience.

At a previous Select Board meeting, a hairdresser complained that an elderly woman who uses a cane couldn't get to the meter because of a snowbank, impeding her from entering the fare.

"I wished that it had worked out," Goodwin said, noting that he was initially impressed with the technology. In practice, however, it has caused more headaches.

"It may just not be fit for prime time in Massachusetts," he added. "We are still hearing from residents that this is not a good fit for Dedham."

Having the old system where a parking officer could use discretion in issuing a ticket is "more like the Dedham we're used to," according to Goodwin.

Select Board member Dennis Teehan thanked Matthews for coming. But he said it was "too little too late."

"Your system is terrific," he said. "It's just not the right system for this community."