City Council gets report on parking dept. finances

LYNN – The City Council Tuesday received a report on Parking Department expenses and revenues, prepared at their request by Chief Financial Officer Richard Fortucci.The council last night voted to table ongoing discussions of the Parking Department and the Off-street Parking Commission for two weeks in order to give the councilors opportunity to read Fortucci’s report.Last month, Councilor-at-large Daniel Cahill asked the council to examine the department operations and finances and its intertwined relationship with the commission. He has contended the department could be run more efficiently and perhaps more profitably, while the commission has outlived its usefulness. In May, Cahill distributed a thick packet of information based on his research of the situation, but some councilors opined that all would be better served by a simple report listing parking revenues and expenses.The Parking Department collects about $1.27 million annually in fines, fees and parking space leasing arrangements. After expenses, it turned over $345,000 to the city in surplus finds.