Parking Fees Could Be on the Rise in Natick

Natick officials could soon raise the fees associated with parking illegally in the town's streets. 

All of Natick's parking fees including parking at an unpaid meter, and blocking a fire hydrant could be doubled to $20 while the fee for parking in a fire lane could be raised to $100. 

The increase was proposed by town's Safety Committee, according to Michael Young, Natick's Deputy Town Administrator. Young said this would be the first increase in many of the fees since 1976. 

Enforcing traffic standards in Natick is increasingly costly, according to Elizabeth Kelly, the town's Assistant Treasurer-Collector. Each meter uses batteries that are regularly replaced, and meter attendants are paid by the town to patrol metered areas, Kelly said. 

Natick town officials will discuss increasing parking fees with residents at a public hearing on July 2 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall.