Swampscott parking enforcement pleases some business owners, angers others

SWAMPSCOTT-At the request of some Humphrey Street business owners, police have stepped up parking enforcement, which has made other businesses unhappy.Police Chief Ronald Madigan said since the department has started aggressively enforcing the parking restrictions along Humphrey Street, especially in the 200 block, he has received calls from business owners expressing concerns about the enforcement.?It is apparent not everyone has the same needs or expectations,” he said. “There is no agreement among the business owners about what the level of enforcement should be. The parking signage is consistent with the laws on the books and we have been enforcing it.”Madigan said the department has created a survey, which was hand delivered to all the businesses along that stretch of Humphrey Street.?We will enforce the law, monitor the situation and seek input,” he said. “I expect we would have future discussions with the traffic committee regarding our findings.”Earlier this month Bernard Newman, owner of Newman’s Bakery at 252 Humphrey St., said the even numbered side of the street is one hour parking, but the police do not enforce it, allowing many vehicles to park their for hours at a time.An employee of Guy’s Tailoring, 208 Humphrey St., said the parking problem has become much worse over the last couple of years due to construction in the area and people leaving their cars for several hours at a time, which is affecting his business as well.In response to outrage from the business owners regarding overtime parking, the police have been patrolling Humphrey Street and ticketing cars for overtime parking, but several of the businesses in that stretch of Humphrey Street are complaining the one hour parking restriction does not meet the needs of their customers.Kim Chiaradonna, who works at Raina’s Hair Color Café, said the increase in parking enforcement is affecting employees and customers of the salon.?We specialize in hair color,” she said. “That’s a two or three hour process. Our customers can’t run out with color on their hair and move their cars.”Chiaradonna, who parks on the street while at work, said she recently received two $25 tickets for overtime parking.?Everybody is very frustrated,” she said. “The police are down here enforcing it all the time. I’d rather have parking meters because it’s easier to run out and feed the meter than it is to move your car.”Red Rock Bistro owner Paul Petersiel said the parking issue is a complex one because not every business has the same needs.?There are not enough parking spaces to meet the needs of the businesses,” he said. “It would be nice if someone could figure out to handle parking in a way that would accommodate the needs in what is primarily a business district.”