Some parking changes on Liberty Street are on the table.
At its meeting Monday night, Warren City Council discussed what to do with the two double-headed parking meters on Liberty Street.
Police Chief Ray Zydonik said that, since the street was recently resurfaced, "it was necessary to paint new lines...two meters are on the same spot because of the new lines."
Zydonik said that Northwest Consumer Loan has expressed a desire to see the meter in front of its building removed. If not removed, he added, the business would like to see the maximum time increased from 30 minutes to one hour.
The other meter was designed for short-term banking parking on the corner of Liberty and Second Avenue.
Zydonik added that the meters "would have to be moved anyway to accommodate the correct location."
He explained that the location of the meters can be found in a city ordinance. The "ordinance does say two specific locations," he added, indicating that he wanted council's thoughts on the matter.
Mayor Mark Phillips said he was in favor of "taking the meters out of both places." He noted that the resurfacing also eliminated the crosswalk in the center of Liberty Street was removed.
"PennDOT loathes mid-block crosswalks," Zydonik said, explaining that curb cuts would have needed to be installed to bring the street into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
He added that eliminating the crosswalk was "much less expensive" and noted that it was "not frequently used. Most people jaywalk up and down the street."
While Councilman John Lewis said he respected the mayor's position, he added, "I'd really like to keep the two 30-minute meters (not in front of Northwest Consumer Loan). (We) don't have anything that allows for a quick in and out."
"I would tend to agree with Councilman Lewis," Councilman Chris Park said. "There are two banks in the area. If you take them out, you'll have Northwest (Savings Bank) employees parking there."
"We put them in there specifically to serve the bank and I don't see any reason to change that," Lewis said, indicating that he would not oppose removing the meter in front of Northwest Consumer Loan.
Council unanimously passed a motion to remove the meter in front of Northwest Consumer Loan and "erect a new double-headed meter serving the two spaces closer to the intersection at Second and Liberty."
Zydonik said he was looking for direction from council and will look to bring an ordinance amendment to council to implement the changes.