LEWISTON — A proposal to create a permit parking system in the Bates College neighborhood was tabled by the City Council on Tuesday, because officials believe they’ve settled on an alternative plan to enforce parking infractions in the area.
Rather than roll out a potentially limited system with registrations and stickers, councilors said the city should simply revert to a winter-long ban for overnight parking, arguing that it will be the easiest and most effective way for police to enforce what neighbors describe as parking safety concerns related to off-campus student housing.
The permits would have been issued to proven residents, making it illegal for a nonresident to park on the street overnight.
Councilors, however, argued that banning overnight parking during the winter months would make it easier for police to simply tow vehicles in violation.
“This requires residents to get a permit to park in their own neighborhood,” Councilor Tim Lajoie said, referring to the permit parking system. “We just need to enforce what’s already there. This is adding another layer, when we have ordinances on the books.”
City Administrator Ed Barrett said that until about five years ago, overnight parking wasn’t allowed in the neighborhood during the winter months.
The lengthy discussion Tuesday that included Bates College and Lewiston police officials was a continuation of talks that have centered on neighborhood disruptions caused by Bates students living off-campus. Neighbors in the residential area have said loud parties and parking issues have steadily increased as more buildings have been repurposed as private student lodging.
In response to concerns from neighbors, the city recently extended a moratorium on establishing lodging houses in the surrounding zone but has been pressed to do more.
Councilor Michael Lachance was the first to mention reinstituting the former overnight parking ban in the neighborhood. He said the permit parking system would cause too much confusion for police, and could be manipulated by students.
At times during the meeting, there was some back and forth between police, Bates officials and councilors as they attempted to pin down how the off-campus activity is enforced.
Lajoie said that “it’s not the responsibility of Bates to enforce parking ordinances in this neighborhood. Why do we think this will work when we’re not enforcing our own parking ordinances?”
Councilor Jim Lysen, who worked with neighbors on the proposal, was in favor of the permit parking, but also listed a number of concerns. There was an initial effort to get something in place before the upcoming school year starts, but Lysen said, “I want it done right and I think we need to address these issues.”
White Street resident Maura Murphy, who has been outspoken about the student disruptions, said that as of 10 days ago, there were 14 “Bates-exclusive” buildings in a two-block radius, each housing between eight to 12 students.
“That’s dozens of vehicles,” she said, adding that many don’t park in driveways, because they don’t want to block each other in.
She said that the majority of neighbors she talked to were in favor of a winter ban on overnight parking. Typically the overnight ban would run from September through May.
“It’s unfortunate this has to be a council issue,” she said. “If Bates administration would take responsibility, they could require students to park in college lots.”
Police officials said that many students who don’t live off-campus also park on streets that are closer to their dorm, instead of parking in official Bates parking lots.
Geoffrey Swift, Bates College treasurer, acknowledged the issues in the neighborhood were “thorny,” and said the college knows “doing nothing is not an option.”
He said Bates asks all students to register their cars with the college, but that it’s tough to enforce.
Bates security also has little to no power in off-campus situations, said Paul Menince, interim director of Bates security. He said the only thing security can do is attempt to contact the student and tell them to move their car.
A resident of Davis Street told the council that the issue “seemed to be a lot better when we had the overnight parking rules.”
He said there “just isn’t room” for the influx of vehicles.
“I’d be more than willing to go out there and paint yellow lines,” he said.
Bruce Noddin, who lives on the corner of Oak and White streets, said there are “serious issues that need to be worked out.”
“The more we talk about it, the more we get into the weeds,” he said.
Adam Higgins, deputy chief of police, said the department writes thousands of tickets in the area each year, adding that the “easiest” option would be banning overnight parking. Currently, a vehicle must accumulate $200 worth of tickets before it is towed. Murphy said she’s seen students simply toss parking tickets on the ground.
Higgins also said that there has been good collaboration between the police and Bates Security. The city also has new rules in place for addressing loud party activity.
Mayor Bob Macdonald told councilors that the issue was “a city problem, not a Bates problem.”
Macdonald recently sent a request to the dean that a letter be distributed to all incoming students, telling them Lewiston will “not be tolerating this anymore.”
He also reiterated a previous wish that the city notify local newspapers in students’ hometowns of any arrests or summonses.
“Let mommy and daddy know what exactly junior is doing up here,” he said.
Swift told the council that a letter will be distributed to each student living off campus. He said the number of students living off campus will be roughly 130 students this year, down from a high of 180 this past year.
The City Council will formally discuss the overnight ban at its next meeting in September. If approved, Barrett said it could be in place by October.
arice@sunjournal.com
Lewiston council sets merger hearing, referendum
LEWISTON — The City Council on Tuesday set its public hearing on the proposed merger of Lewiston and Auburn for 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, to be held at the Lewiston Middle School auditorium.
The approval by the council set the referendum date for Tuesday, Nov. 7, while also setting the official ballot language.
As part of the Lewiston-Auburn Joint Charter Commission’s process, each city is required to hold its own public hearing regarding the merger proposal. Auburn held its public hearing on July 31.
The ballot question will read as follows: “Do you approve the charter and consolidation agreement as recommended by the Lewiston Auburn Joint Charter Commission?”
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