Village Extends Parking Meter Holiday Until April 15

The Village of Port Jefferson has extended the parking meter holiday to April 15. The meters were supposed to go back online on March 15 but citing concern for the businesses in town after an especially snowy winter season and the continued downturn in the economy the village decided to keep the meters dark, at least for one more month.

Mayor Margot Garant discussed concerns brought up by the Economic Development Committee about the parking meters being turned on March 15 with the board of trustees.

“We eventually at least came to a consensus to push back the season until April 15th,” she said in an email. “This should continue to offer relief while we continue to explore best methods and find the ‘right’ balance.”

Garant was referring to any changes to the parking meter fees that may be discussed at upcoming meetings.

“We began to kick around a hundred scenarios as we always do,” she said.

Fearing that any changes might confuse the public at this time, they decided to put off the parking meter activation for another month.

Last fall Port Jefferson suspended parking fees at all village owned parking lots from Nov. 15 to March 15.

Business owners have not embraced the parking meters to say the least and were happy to hear about the holiday over the winter.

Waleska Stefanvelli, assistant manager of the said that business owners could use all the help they could get when the parking fee suspension was first announced. She said that because of the fees, people were only making quick trips into town, which means they aren't visiting the shops and restaurants and spending money.

"People are not staying in town," she said. "They stop for take out but they used to have time to shop, eat, have ice cream, buy a bottle of wine."