Parking kiosks draw ire
More than a year ago, the borough installed parking kiosks in the parking lot behind the First Baptist Church, on Tanner and Mechanic streets, and more.
Although the kiosks are a cost saver for the township, residents, business owners and visitors see them as an inconvenience.
According to borough administrator Sharon McCullough, after the kiosks were installed, they received complaints. Since people have gotten used to the kiosks being there, the number of complaints has been reduced.
She said installing them made it a lot easier for the borough dealing with maintenance and money collection.
Police Chief John Banning said an email is sent to the department notifying it of any maintenance issues, if the paper needs to be changed or money needs to be collected.
He said it allows the meter attendants to address maintenance situations quickly and efficiently.
“It’s quite a savings,” Banning said.
Essentially, the meters are “condensed down to one meter” and are a long-term cost-saver, McCullough said.
On the 2013 budget, the parking kiosks are anticipated to bring in $178,000 in miscellaneous revenues.
Last year, revenues reached $242,404. The Sun previously reported the borough spent $225,000.
But when asked about the kiosks, some people around town react negatively.
Franklin Greener, stylist at Dennis James Salon, said he receives many complaints about the kiosks from clients.
The “low-grade machines” don’t work, he said, adding there is a list of issues with the machines.
According to Greener, some days the machines don’t work, won’t take change or the credit card reader doesn’t read the card.
When it snows, it’s difficult for some to read their spot number, he said. Weekend parking is a different story. Greener said there should be a sign on the kiosks letting people know weekend parking is free.
“People feel like they get ripped off,” he said, adding he has lost clients because of the parking situation.
“Bottom line is they are inferior kiosks,” Greener said.
Resident Holly Bonner had a hard time reading the meter because of the glare, but said the kiosks are OK.
“You get used to it. I think it’s better than what is in Collingswood,” where people must enter their licenses plate numbers and place the printed ticket on the car’s windshield, she said.
According to McCullough, the parking kiosks on Tanner Street require tickets to be placed in the window.
Bonner said she does miss the older meters.
“The only thing that bothers me is you used to be able to, when you had a meter, if someone left an hour on the meter you would be able to pull in. You can’t do that and that’s irritating,” she said.
Fred Meserall, owner of Meserall Opticians, Frederick Meserall & Co., said the parking situation is also hindering his business.
“We have been in this location for 65 years. If they keep doing what they are doing to the parking, I don’t know how many more it will be,” he said.
