Previously uncertified parking meters operational, now being enforced in sections of Vandergrift

It’s time to feed the Vandergrift parking meters again.

At least some of them.

After several months with unenforceable meters, borough officials are making progress in their efforts to repair and certify 330 meters in Vandergrift to make them operational again.

Police began enforcement of the parking meters Monday along Grant and Columbia avenues and the Columbia Avenue parking lot.

The meters take nickels, dimes and quarters. Along Columbia Avenue, a quarter buys one hour of meter time.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

Parking meters are operational again along Columbia Avenue in Vandergrift.

The meters will be enforced from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, said Borough Secretary Steve DelleDonne.

The meters will not be enforced on Sundays and major holidays, police Chief Joe Caporali said.

Caporali said police are handling ticketing duties.

DelleDonne said Tuesday that borough officials are unsure whether a parking meter enforcement officer would be hired.

The previous meter officer retired about two years ago.

In March, visitors and borough residents began to notice bagged parking meters.

Borough officials were ordered by the Westmoreland County Bureau of Weights and Measures to cover all of the meters with plastic bags because they weren’t certified by a parking meter inspector.

Vandergrift resident Rae Ann Bruner spearheaded efforts in March to fix inaccurate, broken and jammed meters throughout the borough.

Bruner expressed her frustration with the borough’s ordinance on parking enforcement hours, which shows that meters will be enforced until different times, depending on the day of the week.

That is different than information provided Tuesday by DelleDonne and Caporali.

“We do know what the ordinance says, but we don’t have the manpower or resources to enforce past 5 p.m., and historically we never tagged cars after 4 p.m.,” Caporali said.

“That is misinformation on the borough’s part, not the residents,” Bruner said. “I would hope that they update the ordinance properly. I think 5 p.m. is a reasonable time.

“The meters may have been certified, but some are still barely usable. Any meter that you can’t see your time, or that doesn’t give you the correct amount of time for your money should be reported and fixed.”

Any resident wishing to report a malfunctioning meter can file an online complaint form with the Westmoreland County Bureau of Weights and Measures, Bruner said.

Caporali, Mayor Lenny Collini, Councilman Tom Holmes and resident Vern Sciullo were trained and certified as parking meter inspectors and have been working to repair and certify all of the borough’s meters.

In February, council voted to increase parking fines and eliminate previously free boroughwide parking on Thursdays.

Caporali said the standard fine for an expired meter was raised from $3 to $5.

Mike Durkin, an Allegheny Township resident, wasn’t aware that parking meters were being enforced.

Durkin, who was parked along Grant Avenue, said if a town has parking meters, people have to abide by the rules.

“I follow the ordinances, and you have to pay,” Durkin said.

Scotty Ashbaugh of Parks Township took a more nonchalant approach as he parked his car Wednesday in the Washington Avenue lot.

“I’m taking a chance today, and I didn’t put any money in the meter,” Ashbaugh said.

Ashbaugh, who works in Pittsburgh’s North Shore neighborhood, said he doesn’t think a $5 ticket is too steep.

“I’d rather pay that than the $20 fine you can get in Pittsburgh,” Ashbaugh said.

Some businesses offering free parking

Dan Albert, former owner and current employee of Tees-n-Tops along Grant Avenue, bought an annual parking spot in front of the store.

“Parking has historically always been a problem in Vandergrift,” Albert said. “After 43 years, it’s always been an issue.”

Albert said the business pays $120 annually for the one parking space.

A sign requests motorists only park for up to an hour.

Inside Tees-n-Tops, a container of loose change is available to customers to help offset whatever they paid to park in metered spots.

Other businesses offering free public parking spaces include Ross Pharmacy and Kurlaine Florist.

Robert Buchanan, co-owner of Allusion Brewing Co., said he would like council to consider making parking free on weekends.

“I get a lot of business on Saturday. But that’s very reasonable,” Buchanan said of the parking enforcement hours ending at 5 p.m. “The meters deter people from parking there for days on end. I’m very happy to hear that the enforcement ends at 5 p.m.”