Freehold Paid Parking 'Holiday' A Response To Business Complaints

FREEHOLD, NJ — The Borough Council on Monday approved some modifications to the paid parking management system in borough lots for a six-week "holiday" to address certain concerns of local businesses.

The paid parking holiday includes the following changes, according to the borough:

• McGackin Triangle, Borough Hall and Market Yard parking lots will require no payment on Sundays through Tuesdays all day, and no payment on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• McGackin Triangle, Borough Hall and Market Yard paid parking remains in effect from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.
• Paid parking will remain in effect on the following streets seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.: Main, South, Court and Mechanic streets.

Borough Administrator Stephen Gallo explained the resolution adjusting paid parking times to the Borough Council at its meeting on Monday. It was the only item on the agenda, and you can hear the full discussion here. The resolution expires April 1 unless extended by the borough.

Gallo said local businesses expressed concern about losing lunchtime business since the paid program went into effect in September, saying customer volume has decreased.

Gallo said this is also a good time to evaluate how the program is running and make adjustments as needed to any "glitches." This time of year also is a slower one for businesses, he added.

Mayor Kevin Kane said the borough knew the parking management system would be a "learning experience" going in, although it is committed to the program.

"It's a partnership with the downtown businesses - and we'll listen to them and we are not afraid to make the changes we need to make," Kane said.

The council voted unanimously to approve the holiday.

Gallo said if anyone is confused about if they have to pay, the meters will be locked during free periods and a message will come up saying "parking holiday; no payment due."

There will be a meeting with the parking management company and the borough and borough businesses to discuss the program further.

Funds raised by the parking management system will be "dedicated to repaving parking lots, continuing maintenance, line striping, way-finding signage, landscaping, litter control, snow removal, public safety and land acquisition for new parking opportunities so these costs do not have to be born by Freehold Borough residential and commercial property taxes," the borough says.

For more information call the Freehold Parking Utility at 732 462-4200, x234.

You can read a past Patch article on the introduction of the system here.

This is an updated article that corrects the name of the borough administrator.