MECHANIC FALLS — The Town Council voted Monday night to make Yates Street two-way again with no parking on either side.
The action followed a public hearing and ends a six-month experiment of having the street one-way from Highland Avenue to Pine Street and on-street parking along the left side.
Parking along Yates Street had been prohibited for years because it’s only 22 feet wide, a good 6 feet narrower than most town streets.
In June, several residents complained to the council that, given the layout of the neighborhood, visitors simply had no place to park except along the street.
At Monday’s hearing, residents said the inconvenience of having to circle around to the Highland Avenue end outweighed the benefits of having on-street parking.
Two-way traffic will be allowed and on-street parking prohibited as soon as the Public Works crew can take down the one-way signs and block out the lines that mark parking spaces.
In her report, Town Manager Koriene Low said mortgage holders on the Harvest Hill Farm land that is scheduled to go into foreclosure on Jan. 17 have indicated back taxes will be paid before then.
In other business, the council:
• Approved revisions to a deed transferring ownership of the former First Congregational Church at 64 Elm St. to the Anglican Church of the Transformation, and authorized Low to sign it on behalf of the town;
• Named Carl Beckett and Yvon Gilbert to one-year terms on the Budget Committee;
• Approved a liquor license renewal for the Silver Spur and authorized the American Legion Post No. 150 to hold games of chance, both for one year; and
• Signed a renewal of the town’s mutual aid agreement with the Auburn Fire Department.
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