Full Andrew Street parking lot automation to be introduced this week

LYNN – The Andrew Street parking lot will be fully automated by the weeks end, according to Off Street Parking Commissioner Jamie Cerulli.”The machine is being installed (today),” Cerulli said. “Training will be done later in the morning in the Parking Department in City Hall.”In a perfect world, the automation would be up and running Wednesday but Cerulli said that isn’t likely to happen. Details are still being worked out and she said it’s been suggested they install a gate to keep risk takers out. With no attendant or gate, anyone could park in the lot without feeding money into the parking machine, but if they do they take the risk of getting a ticket, Cerulli explained. The Parking Department also has the capability to log into the machine to see how many cars are in the lot and who has overstayed their welcome.Patrons that use the lot for overnight parking with still have the ability to purchase monthly passes, but Cerulli said they better not dawdle.”We used to have a problem of over-selling the lot, but that won’t happen anymore,” she said. “Now it will be first come first serve and when it’s full, it’s full.”While the parking attendant is scheduled to be moved to another lot, Commission Chairman Taso Nikolakopoulos said he plans to keep him on the premises for the first week to help make the transition smoother.The transition isn’t Nikolakopoulos’ largest concern however: that would be reserved for trash. He said that trash appears to be from a group of people who eat in the lot at least three or four times a week and leave behind Styrofoam to-go containers and wrappers behind.”What is the maximum fine for illegal dumping?” he asked during a recent Off Street Parking meeting.Assistant Parking Clerk Robert Stillian said if Nikolakopoulos truly wants to tackle the trash issue the commission should consider installing cameras in the lot.”Cameras would not be a bad move,” he said. “You have to catch them and I think if we put cameras up you will catch them.”Stillian said he plans to revive the old Andrew Street Parking sign for the revitalized lot.Andrew Street is the first of the city-owned lots to be fully automated but it won’t be the last. Cerulli said the next lot on the agenda is Buffum Street but there is no timetable for getting that lot on line.