Article submitted by James Master, Managing Editor of The Pilot News
The owner of a business in downtown Argos addressed the parking ordinance, specifically parking time restrictions.
Jill Houin, owner of The Breakroom Pub and Grill, said a police officer said he was going to start ticketing patrons even during event evenings if they are parked past the two hour time restriction.
“I agree with the two hour parking, for the most part, and the overnight parking completely. But my concern is with the ordinance. A policeman came in and said he was going to start ticketing even when I have entertainment,” she said.
Houin went on to state that she understood the ordinance and recognized that it made sense for the businesses. “But I feel like I wanted to speak up and just state that if we could somehow tweak it to accommodate all the businesses, including myself when I have entertainment and it’s a three hour entertainment. I don’t want my patrons, who are from Rochester or Plymouth or Argos, to get ticketed for enjoying that.”
As of that meeting, Houin said that none of her patrons have been ticketed. Houin requested that the wording in the ordinance be changed to accommodate businesses that are open later in the night.
“I don’t know the solution, but I don’t want my patrons to be punished for staying and coming. I want it to continue to grow,” she said.
Harley, who also serves as the president of the Argos Police Commission, responded that he remembered when that particular ordinance was written. “It was kind of written for a specific reason, the way it was written. But with that being said, things have changed in the downtown since then…I think that we need to reopen that ordinance and look at the timing possibly. I’m envisioning, possibly, a two-hour limit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then from 5 p.m. to say midnight or 1 a.m. make that unlimited parking and like 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. or whatever. The whole goal is we want the town employees to be able to, in the wintertime, go down and clean the streets out,” said Harley.
After some discussion, the council decided that it was best to schedule a workshop to discuss the matter further.
Houin went on to state that she understood the ordinance and recognized that it made sense for the businesses.
As of that meeting, Houin said that none of her patrons have been ticketed. Houin requested that the wording in the ordinance be changed to accommodate businesses that are open later in the night.
Argos Town Councilman Shawn Harley, who also serves as the president of the Argos Police Commission, responded that he remembered when that particular ordinance was written and it was for a specific reason, but noted that things have changed downtown and the ordinance should be revisited.
After some discussion, the council decided that it was best to schedule a workshop to discuss the matter further.
