For Immediate Release

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Maynard Seeks Members for New Municipal Parking Authority

MAYNARD – Town Administrator Greg Johnson is pleased to announce that the Town of Maynard is looking for residents and business owners who are interested in applying to become a part of the new Maynard Parking Authority.

There are currently two at-large positions open to Maynard residents and one at-large position for a Maynard business owner. 

Those interested in serving on the Maynard Parking Authority should send a resume and letter of interest to Assistant Town Administrator Megan Zammuto at

mzammuto@townofmaynard.net  by Friday, May 24.

As a result of a parking study conducted recently for the town by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the Maynard Economic Development Committee proposed a parking management plan for town-owned parking in the downtown.  

This plan was recently approved by the Maynard Board of Selectmen and includes the formation of a cross-functional Parking Authority to manage downtown parking policy as an economic resource.

The details and scope of the Authority are as follows:

Charter

Maynard’s Parking Authority works to create, document and implement clear and consistent parking policies; review all proposed parking-related ordinances and applications; hear and address citizen concerns; and promote the availability of parking to support robust economic activity in the Town of Maynard.

Membership, Terms of Office and Appointing Authority

The Parking Authority will consist of seven members as follows: The Assistant Town Administrator; the Director of Public Works, or his/her designee; the Police Chief, or his/her designee; and four at-large members appointed by the Town Administrator.

Of the at-large members, one shall be a member of the Economic Development Committee and one shall be a local business owner. The other two at-large positions are open to Maynard residents.The Town Engineer and Parking Clerk shall serve as advisers to the Commission. The Assistant Town Administrator shall act as the chairperson of said Authority. 

Terms will be indefinite for staff members and three year staggered terms for at-large members. Initial appointments for at-large members will be one member for a one-year term, two members for two-year terms and one member for a three-year term.

Authorities and Responsibilities

The Parking Authority advises the Town Administrator and Board of Selectmen on the operation, safety, efficiency and sustainability of its multi-modal parking capacity for automobiles, motorcycles, shuttle vans, bicycles and pedestrians.

The Authority researches and recommends town policies related to parking.

The Authority shall review and make recommendations on any ordinance related to parking.

The Authority shall receive and review input from town residents, businesses, and neighborhoods on issues or concerns related to parking. The Authority may hold hearings, review data, and make recommendations on applications filed under the town’s Complete Streets program.

“With our burgeoning and vibrant downtown comes many visitors who want to shop at the stores and eat at the restaurants downtown Maynard has to offer,” Assistant Town Administrator Zammuto said. “That also means that these welcomed visitors will need multiple parking options and clear guidelines, along with our residents of the downtown and everyone else who calls Maynard home. The Parking Authority will help to define the town’s parking guidelines with input from our community, including business owners and residents.”

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