Extended time proposed for parking at select downtown Greensburg meters

Some visitors to downtown Greensburg could gain a few extra minutes of metered parking without the risk of an overtime ticket, if the city pursues a councilman’s suggestion.

Councilman Randy Finfrock on Wednesday, July 5 proposed buying software that would allow the city to add a grace period of a few minutes to selected parking meters.

He suggested tacking on at least 5 minutes to the time a motorist has paid for before the meter would register as expired.

There would be a one-time software purchase of about $500 from POM Inc., the company that supplies the city’s meter heads.

“It will be a little bit of a hit to (parking) revenue, but I think the public relations and the satisfaction of our citizens will be much greater than that,” Finfrock said. “We can give them extra time before it kicks into a violation. That will certainly cut down on complaints.

“Technically, if they’re a second past the time, they’re in violation.”

Finfrock suggested trying the software on meters for on-street parking along sections of Pennsylvania Avenue and Second Street, where many downtown shops are clustered.

“We’re trying to help our businesses,” he said.

While longer grace periods can be programmed, Finfrock said, “I’m not in favor of as much as 15 minutes. We have some time to make a decision about that.”

Since each meter must be programmed individually by the public works staff, he said, any parking time extension likely wouldn’t take place until next year.

Public Works Director Tom Bell noted there are about 50 on-street parking meters along Pennsylvania Avenue, out of more than 900 meters throughout the city.

There is a two-hour time limit on Greensburg’s street meters, which charge 25 cents for 15 minutes if fed with coins. The rate is reduced to 75 cents per hour when paying with a Meter Feeder app that can be downloaded to smartphones.

Parking ticket fines start at $5.

The proposed parking grace period is “a start in the right direction,” said Amy Beeghly, president of the Greensburg Business and Professional Association. “We appreciate everything they’re willing to do.”

In the past, Greensburg placed several courtesy boxes downtown where motorists could be relieved of an overtime parking fine if they deposited their ticket within a set time after incurring the violation.

“We decided to discontinue that,” Finfrock said. “It was too complicated and difficult to maintain,” with the boxes subject to vandalism.