The request was for Senior Center members to have 20 spaces available.
At this week’s meeting, township council held a discussion regarding a request from Senior Center members to obtain reserved parking at Cranberry Hall.
The request was for a courtesy sign to be placed in the lot in hopes of freeing 10 parking spaces on each side, including the four handicap spaces available there.
The Senior Center members would like those 20 spaces to be available from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, which is the time most of their activities take place.
Colleen Stover spoke on behalf of the Senior Center members to clarify their motive behind the request.
“From what I understand, they have people coming, older people, that have a tough time having to walk a distance, so that’s the whole reason for this request,” Stover said. “It’s just one of those things to make it a little bit easier for some of the older members of the Senior Center that want to utilize the Senior Center.”
Stover said the members are aware it is a public parking lot, and that even if signs are installed, they are not enforceable. The motive for the sign is to serve as a request to residents who are able to walk farther, to park a little farther to ease the walk for those who aren’t as mobile.
After discussion within the council, concerns were raised regarding the placement of a sign, fearing it would leave 20 empty spaces during the times that no events were being held at the Senior Center.
Mayor Chuck Watson said he would like to find another solution to this problem, instead of taking away parking from the public, given it is a public parking lot used for residents, employees of the township building and other businesses, the park, etc.
There was talk of possibly adding more handicap spots to the lot; however, not all members of the center who have a hard time walking have approved handicap signs. Also, all handicap spots cannot be marked as reserved in a public parking lot.
The council decided the best course of action would be for Stover to ask the members of the Senior Center to talk among themselves and for the more mobile members to park farther away during events, to allow the less mobile members to have priority of the closer parking spaces.
In addition, Township Manager Kathy Burger suggested mentioning to those employed at the township building and surrounding buildings to consider parking farther away on the days the Senior Center hosts events.
In other news:
● The time for Food Trucks on Main Street has been changed from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., every third Thursday. There is an anticipated 11 vendors for future events, starting Oct. 18.
● Brush collection is complete for this year, and leaf collection will start in Zone 4 during the week of Oct. 29. There is expected to be two leaf collections done per zone, with about a month in between each pick up. The schedule will be posted on the township website, www.medfordtownship.com.
The next regular meeting will be held on Nov. 7 at the Public Safety Building located at 91 Union St. at 7 p.m.
