Lynn parking boss: Just move cars

LYNN – As another huge blast of snow pounds the region, the city’s parking director reminds residents that Lynn takes parking bans on city streets very seriously and doesn’t target certain neighborhoods over others.According to records stored by the Lynn Parking Department, the city had 371 automobiles towed for parking on the street during a declared snow emergency between Dec. 19 and 21, which was the weekend before Christmas when the region was whacked with two major storms in two days.At $140 for a towing fee, a $50 ticket from the city for parking during a snow emergency and a $20-per-day towing yard storage fee, Parking Director Jay Fenton explains that tows are costly.”I’ll be the first to admit, that’s a lot of money to pay if you leave your car on the street,” Fenton said.The city can also ticket $30 for people whose cars impede snow removal, even if an official snow emergency has not been declared, Fenton said.Department records show the sizable majority of the 371 vehicles were towed from Wards 3, 4, 5 and 6, which are all part of or near downtown.Fenton shoots back at rumors saying contracted tow truck drivers target the neighborhoods around the city’s Bennett Street tow yard out of convenience.”You won’t see many tows on a list in Ward 1 because it’s a residential area where a lot of people have driveways. In the downtown, off-street parking is a premium,” he said.”It’s hard to concentrate in any given area and it’s not good to do it,” Fenton continued. “If the trucks only concentrate in one area they can’t get to another.”However, Fenton says Bennett Street is certainly an area Department of Public Works and public safety officials want to keep accessible.”It’s one of the most heavily trafficked streets in the storm because it’s the one to-and-from the tow yard and we want to keep it clear,” Fenton said.In the Dec. 19 to Dec. 21 storms, the city only towed 11 cars from Bennett Street and surrounding streets. Four were towed from Bennett, one from Elmwood Avenue, five from South Street and one from Astor Street, according to parking records.”I don’t think there’s ever been an instance where we’ve been selective,” Fenton said.The director says he and his employees have heard every excuse in the book over the years from people who claim their cars shouldn’t have been towed. On the other hand, he says, they often get complaints from residents who say too many cars are not towed from their street.”You’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t,” Fenton said. “I don’t know of many people who come into this department with a smile on their face. But it’s the nature of what we do.”Many complaints arise from residents of dead end streets and cul-de-sacs, where oftentimes people think it’s OK to park their vehicles during a snow emergency because they’re not blocking access to main roads.”That’s an urban myth,” Fenton said.Fenton says the biggest problem is simply getting the word out during a storm that a snow emergency has been declared, but says the city still “does a good job.” Not only does the city activate flashing blue lights at most major intersections, but it posts notices on the city’s official Web site and community access cable television, which are often re-posted on itemlive.com.”The city bends over backwards,” he said.Those who don’t have driveways are permitted to park their cars in parking lots of the following schools: Brickett, Callahan, English, Ford, Harrington, Ingalls, Sisson and Tech. Parking is also available at the Ellis Street Municipal Lot (School Street side) and the MBTA Garage at the intersection of Broad and Market streets. Parking next to school buildings and driveways is not allowed. Vehicles left at those sites must be removed by 6 a.m. the next day or be subject to ticketing and/or towing.