Ridgewood advances on parking meter plan
FEBRUARY 3, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — The village council is moving closer to a plan to partially automate its parking meters — an effort that could reduce the potential for theft of meter revenue.
The village manager also is recommending that the council set aside $13,000 to update all its single-head parking meters with secure canisters, which would restrict access to the coins inside them.
The council is expected to vote on a resolution to contract with Atlanta-based Parkmobile — the makers of a smartphone app that allows people to pay with credit cards — when it meets Feb. 11.
“I think this is a great opportunity for us, and it’s something we could do relatively quick,” Mayor Paul Aronsohn said, pointing out that the system could be “up and running” within six weeks.
“I, too, believe [this] is the way to go, as the meter system will become obsolete in the future,” Councilwoman Susan Knudsen said.
The village started examining how it collects and stores parking meter revenue following the arrest two years ago of its public works manager for stealing more than $450,000 in meter quarters from a storage room in Village Hall. Thomas Rica used a building master key he was given to regularly enter the room and stole quarters for two years.
Rica pleaded guilty in March to four counts of third-degree theft. He was sentenced in July to five years’ probation and ordered to repay about $250,000.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-advances-on-parking-meter-plan-1.1263409
Well HEllO nothing new here. The Parkmobile system was proposed by the Chamber to the Village almost 5 years ago …….and it was rejected. Want to bet they pat themselves on the back for coming up with this revolutionary “new” idea.
its funny because every time we ran a post on this blog suggesting parking alternatives to the current meter system we got blasted and poo poo-ed
So the thief gets to keep $200,000?
So the object is to complain when they did nothing, now complain that they are doing something.
I think I see a pattern!
You are incorrect #4. The object is to complain about a clear and long standing pattern of the Village not listening to anyone other than themselves. They feel THEY alone are the sole source of good ideas. Any ideas and suggestions from others are dismissed or quietly brushed aside.. The notion of them “reaching out” and “drilling down” for thoughts and ideas is sheer fantasy.
Where are the numbers we used to see next to each post so that we could respond to specific ones? That was helpful. James, I hope your all-new shiny refurbished setup will allow this.
more likely it appears someone was just protecting criminal activity
A complete summary of the Ridgewood parking meter issue.
1. Despite many other municipalities moving to modern methods of paid-parking management, Ridgewood Village made all kinds of silly excuses to keep the museum pieces. The reason they did this was because they actually liked having piles of petty cash that was easy to fudge and could be used for all kinds of spontaneous in-house spending, such as lunches, drinks, etc. The rationale was as long as most of it got banked, this was a very convenient system.
2. The guy in charge of managing the meters ripped the absolute bejesus out of it and did it so big that the Village had no choice but to prosecute.
3. Prosecution was tricky, as meter-man’s lawyer would no doubt bring up the issue of #1 at any court trial.
4. Deal struck with meter man to accept a no-jail time deal on the condition that he repaid to the Village some of what he stole.
Name and e-mail now required?
What if you don’t have a smart phone? No parking for those people? Need options.