Mayor James J. Fiorentini, said today that after reviewing the proposals of the Haverhill Parking Commission, he will recommend some fees for parking downtown. Fiorentini said that he would schedule a meeting early next week to listen to the downtown merchants and hear their concerns before deciding on the details of what he would propose but that he was firm that he would recommend some charges for parking.

“I certainly want to listen and hear their concerns before moving forward” said Fiorentini. I will work with the merchants on the details of the proposal before I submit it, but I am firmly convinced that charging for parking will benefit downtown.

“We have a severe problem downtown” said Fiorentini “the same people are taking the same parking spaces, staying in them all day long, and preventing customers from getting to the stores.

The only efficient way to regulate parking is to charge for it. Free parking is unregulated parking, and unregulated parking is choking our downtown and killing business.”

Fiorentini estimated that parking fees can bring in from $350,000 to one million a year. “Part or all of those funds will be used to fix our parking decks, keep downtown clean and safe and fix so many things downtown that we simply can not afford to fix.”

“Some has to pay to fix our parking deck, to keep our parking lots clean and safe and provide the additional parking that will be required to bring in more people to downtown. The burden should be borne by those who park, not by the already beleaguered taxpayers of the city.

“Charging for parking will help business, not hurt it” said Fiorentini. “It will free up spaces for their customers and give us the cash we need to rejuvenate downtown. There is no other way to do this.”

Fiorentini said that the meeting will be set up on May 19 th.

*Source: City of Haverhill, Massachusetts Web Site: www.ci.haverhill.ma.us 2-16-05