FARMINGTON — Selectmen Tuesday, April 27, authorized an expenditure of $6,642 from the Police Department computer equipment reserve account to purchase a parking enforcement system from United Public Safety of Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.

The new system uses digital photographs instead of chalking a vehicle’s tire to enforce parking regulations. The only physical contact comes when a citation is placed under the windshield wiper. An annual fee of $2,988 is also required.

A citizen raised the issue of physically chalking vehicles, which has been addressed by two different US Circuit Court of Appeals in other districts to the department’s attention, Police Chief Kenneth Charles said. Efficiencies will be gained with the new system, he noted.

Quotes on three systems were obtained. Operations Commander came with an initial cost of $3,800 with an annual $3,800 cost. Duncan Parking Technologies was seeking $17,987 initially with $1,680 annually.

Duncan’s price was higher as it includes the handheld device with the package, the other two don’t, Deputy Chief Shane Cote wrote in an April 6 email to Town Manager Richard Davis and the selectmen.

United Public Safety was suggested after they recommended purchasing the handheld device as it would be cheaper for the department, Cote told the board.

“As soon as a ticket is issued, it will be in the cloud,” he said. Tickets can be paid instantly through cellphones, there is an online appeal process, he noted.

Other things can be added later for code enforcement, building, it’s an expandable system, Cote said. Updates to the system are included in the yearly update, he added.

A digital photograph of the driver’s front side tire is taken showing where the valve stem is. The street and space are identified and the license plate recorded. When the officer returns two hours later, it would be unlikely the valve stem would be in the same spot.

The possibility of the annual cost increasing over time was a concern raised by Selectman Joshua Bell.

Automating the sending out of tickets and overdue reminders will eliminate those tasks from the office manager, Cote said. There is an additional $1 per letter plus postage for that, he said adding the manager sends out 20 or so delinquent letters per month.

“It takes her about one hour per month,” Cote said. “The parking employee will be able to be quicker at parking enforcement. He spends 4.5 to 5 hours now chalking tires, filling out tickets. That will be reduced greatly.”

When asked about the device used, Cote said it is a thermal printer carried in an inside pocket in colder temperatures.

It’s similar to an oversized cellphone, Charles said.

“The public is becoming more aware of the 6th Circuit decision,” Davis said. Chalking is a violation, unlawful search and seizure and citizens have come to the town about it, he noted.

“It’s the physical touching of their vehicle is the public comment we get,” Davis said.

The purpose of the parking ordinance is to benefit the downtown merchants, to prevent a monopoly on spaces, he noted.

“It’s getting busier and busier in the office,” Charles said. “There are so many other more important things the office manager should be doing with her time than dealing with delinquent tickets, fines.”

The police department doesn’t accept credit cards, so there would be streamlining there as well, Cote said.

Those who wish to avoid the service charge may still pay tickets with cash, it was pointed out.

Selectmen Matthew Smith, Stephan Bunker and Scott Landry voted to authorize the expenditure. Selectman Michael Fogg and Bell were opposed.

A bid for street striping and crosswalk painting was awarded to Lucas Striping, LLC of Readfield. This year a three-year contract request was sent out to a dozen or so, Davis said.

“He (Lucas Striping) held the price the same for the three years,” he said. The $24,965.32 is over the $23,000 budgeted for this year but having the price remain unchanged will provide stability in budgeting for the next two years, he noted.

In other business selectmen scheduled a special Town Meeting for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 25, for voters to act on several ordinance amendments.

Prior to setting the date, selectmen had approved amendments to several of the town’s ordinances.

A section was added to the Adult Use and Medical Marijuana Ordinance to clarify the responsibility of marijuana licensees/permittees in making prompt, timely payment for licenses/permits and the consequences of not doing so.

Applicants unconditionally promise to pay the town upon approval by municipal officers of their application, Davis said. If the fee remains unpaid for 30 days the license is revoked, the permit goes to the bottom of the list and they lose their slot, he noted.

Additions/changes to the Land Use Table in the Public Wellhead Protection Ordinance would allow above and underground propane storage and multi-unit/family housing on municipal sewer in wellhead protection zones 1 and 2 with Planning Board approval. Parking lots would also be allowed in zone 1 with Planning Board approval.

“An amendment would allow for a use planned within this district,” Davis said. Farmington Water District and the Maine Drinking Water program have had discussions, he noted.

A 25-unit affordable housing development is being considered on Willow Springs Road. The units would be for those 62 years and older, with construction to start next spring.

A Department of Environmental Protection permit would also be needed, Norm Chamberlain with Walsh Engineering of Westbrook told the board.

“You’re asking for the ordinance to be changed to allow this to happen,” Fogg asked.

“We’ve talked to the water department, Maine Drinking Water” Chamberlain said. The latter said Farmington’s ordinance is more restrictive than it has to be with proper stormwater management, he added.

The Zoning Board reviewed, were in agreement with the changes, Davis said.

Changes in the definitions section of the Zoning Ordinance further describe the definition of group home, hospice, nursing home, convalescent home, rest home, residential care facility.

It tightens down the requirements for these facilities, Davis said.

Other changes in that section of the ordinance describe the definition of chemical dependency treatment with four medications currently in use listed.

The wording indicates others are possible, there may be new treatments that aren’t chemicals, Davis said when asked if the medications should be included.

 

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