BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This Week

CANTON -- The village board of trustees is mulling whether to keep or remove the parking meters along the Village Green park where it plans an extensive renovation project. 

The board discussed the issue, as well as approved a resolution declaring itself lead agency in a required environmental review for the upcoming Village Green Enhancements project, at its Oct. 21 meeting.

The renovation of the historic village green park, which owned by the First Presbyterian Church, will reconstruct walkways and pavements, make ADA improvements, replace of park/pathway lighting and electric service, renovate the memorial garden area, possibly build a new bus stop, install site furnishings, remove a few select trees and landscaping work. According to the village's SEQR documents on the project, the total site disturbance at the park will be around a half acre.

The park renovation, part of the village's NY Forward strategic reinvestment plan, is funded through a $1,096,000 grant administered by Empire State Development (ESD). The Village has engaged LaBella Associates to lead design and engineering services.

The village held a community workshop to receive public input on the project this past summer and had an open online survey to receive ideas that closed in August. 

Mayor Mike Dalton told village board members at their Oct. 21 meeting that the existing meters which line the border parking spots around the park would have to be removed during the upcoming project. 

"There was some question about what our intent would be for those meters," Dalton said.  

"Are we putting them back, replacing them?" asked Trustee Barb Beekman. 

"Refurbishing them? Anything, what are we doing?" Deputy Mayor Anna Sorensen said. 

"I have had people in the past say that it would be more welcoming if we didn't have them at all," said Trustee Beth Bullock Larrabee. 

Dalton said that drivers parking their vehicles for long periods of time on Main Street where there are no meters has been a frequent complaint of village residents.  

"I think this is part of the conversation. We have to look at these angles," Sorensen said. 

Board members briefly discussed other options besides parking meter poles, such as kiosks or other systems like those briefly tried in Potsdam and now used in Lake Placid, Syracuse and Burlington.

Such systems allow for multiple forms of payment, but board members questioned the upfront expense. Kiosks can cost as much as $10,000. 

Village Police Chief Ryan Cole said a kiosk system would require a yearly subscription as well as special equipment for the police department as well. 

Discussion touched on leaving the Main Street meters adjacent to the park in place and removing the others on the other streets bordering the Village Green, or maybe implementing a 2-hour free parking system like the one now in place in neighboring Potsdam. 

Sorensen suggested the discussion be taken up by the various village committees since they could approach it from different perspectives. 

The board is expected to hear back from the committees next month and consider a solution. 

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