Parents Issued Parking Tickets on 1st Day of School to Get Amnesty

Some Macdonough Elementary School parents dropping off their children for the first day of school and attending a welcome-back celebration Thursday were surprised to find a $10 parking ticket on their windshields when they went to drive away.

Meter monitor Fred Kesten was following street sweeping rules, which prohibits cars from parking on certain streets on days that public works trucks clean the roadway, according to Middletown Parking Director Geen Thazhampallath. "He probably went by the sign," which says no parking on one side of the street from 12:01 a.m. through noon on Thursdays.

"It was brought to my attention and it's more important for this one special day that kids get safely into school, especially during a hectic time," Thazhampallath said.

Unlike other Middletown schools, there is no parking lot at the North End elementary and limited parking on Spring, Pearl and Stack streets for parents who want to walk their children to the door. 

Izzi Greenberg, treasurer of the Macdonough PTA, contacted Thazhampallath Thursday and said he was very reasonable. "This was a no-brainer for them," she wrote on Facebook. "They have the same goals as the school in terms of parent participation. I want parents to come to school events! Today was a wonderful start to the school year and I want parents to remember it with only good memories."

The parking department is offering amnesty for anyone who received a parking ticket Thursday morning on Spring Street between 8:30 and 10 a.m., he said.

Thazhampallath wasn't sure of the exact number of cars ticketed, but estimated about a handful. "We'll take care of it as soon as they present the ticket to us."

Ticketing of restaurant and retail patrons in downtown Middletown has raised the ire of some residents and visitors to the city. And some small business owners are speaking out about the increase in time that city-owned lots charge fees Monday to Saturday.

On Aug. 1, the parking department changed the hours of the Melilli and Arcade lot hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The first hour is still free.

The Middletown Parking Department is located on the lower level of the Municipal Building in room 111. The office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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