By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- A proposal that would have lifted an overnight parking ban on city streets, as weather permits, was shot down by city councilors Monday.

Deputy Mayor Michael Morley proposed allowing the council more discretion to lift the winter parking ban when city crews would not be removing snow or debris from streets. Under the existing policy the ban runs though March 31.

The premise of the ban is to keep vehicles off city streets in winter months to allow plows to clear snow.

Morley said that most years the policy makes sense, but seasonably warm weather has left the roads clear and with no threat of a major storm in forecast he doesn't see a reason to restrict parking.

Rather than being tied to arbitrary dates, Morley said he'd like to see the council lift the ban as weather permits. He said the current policy is unnecessarily forcing residents to park on their yard's without reason.

Morley said residents shouldn't be ticketed for parking in the streets on nights when crews weren't clearing roads.

Although several councilors and the Mayor Wayne Ashley agreed with Morley's sentiment, problems were expressed regarding the policy's implementation.

Ashley, along with councilors David Price, Timothy Davis and Jennifer Stevenson agreed that lifting the ban and re-imposing the ban would be confusing.

Stevenson also cited freak storms as potential problems.

Ashley the city police have always used discretion in such instances. He said he had faith Chief Andrew Kennedy's judgment in such matters.

Kennedy confirmed to councilors that in some instances city residents call to inform city police they are unable to move their vehicles. He said such cases are handled case by case.

Consensus from council was to leave the ban in place through April 1.