The Select Board voted unanimously at a recent meeting to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with Plymouth County to manage Concord’s parking tickets, fines and hearings.
Finance Director Gail Dowd stressed that the agreement is not tied in any way to the town’s parking meters, which caused significant backlash after they were installed some years ago that required an app to pay for parking.
Town Manager Kerry LaFleur said in the fall that the new meters were so unpopular and ill-used that the town stopped enforcing parking violations, though it still issues tickets.
“This is an agreement for ticket management,” said Dowd, including payment of current and past due tickets and hearings arising from unpaid ones.
Dowd said many other communities have agreements with Plymouth for the service.
Select Board members were surprised at how inexpensive Plymouth is compared to the cost of the management company the town used in the past.
Dowd said Plymouth Co., at $9,000 per year, is half the cost of the previous management company.
Dowd said Concord’s website would still have links to pay tickets.
The per-ticket cost is approximately $2, with a hearing, conducted by Plymouth Co. costing $.50.
“It’s very nominal,” said Dowd. “It’s such a no-brainer.”
“How can we go wrong?” asked Select Board member Henry Dane, rhetorically.
Dowd said tickets would be issued whether or not the town re-installs meters if a motorist parks in the wrong spot or stays too long.
