Over the
past two months, almost every public hearing that the Traffic and
Parking Commission held has had very good turnouts, most likely because
of the vast changes being made to the Somerville's parking
infrastructure. However, the past two held seemed to dishearten
residents whom attended, the board not entertaining questions or
heeding concerns from residents and Aldermen, and going through with
the changes that they and their had mapped out.

Still, the
uneventful hearing went on. All five items on the agenda passed
unanimously, which were as follows: Item number one was the acceptance
of the minutes proposed at the July 30th Traffic Commission meeting.
Items two and three were requests for handicapped parking at 85 Hudson
Street and 8 Rhode Island Avenue. This wasn't quite as clear; the
Commission made it clear that 8 Rhode Island Avenue would definitely
get the approval and handicapped parking, from what sounded like a
request by a friend, but didn't say anything more than "this item has
been put on the table" in regard to 85 Hudson Street. Item four was a
request to re-locate an existing loading zone at 152 Highland Avenue
about twenty-five feet east, and was approved unanimously by the
Commission.

Item number five was the big one, the request for an
amendment to the citywide permit parking regulation. This amendment
would make about twenty streets, including all of Medford St., Broadway
and Beacon St., as well as portions of Boston Ave., College Ave., and
Holland St. two hour parking except by permit from 8 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.,
and exclusively permit parking between 2:30 a.m. and 8 a.m., except on
holidays and Sundays. This item passed, but proved to be the one of
great importance to the Commission, and Acting Director James Kotzuba.

Mr.
Kotzuba and Stan Koty discussed the concerns that were laid out at the
past meetings, including those of specific businesses and religious
establishments in respect to the way permit parking would affect them.
Mr. Kotzuba stated that he has had multiple meetings with many
different businesses to assess the specific requests, and that all of
these requests have been addressed successfully, and that business
permits have already begun to be issued. Mr. Koty then asked Mr.
Kotzuba if he was planning to work in a 'as-we-go' matter of sorts, and
Mr. Kotzuba answered by saying that any further requests will
absolutely be open to discussion with himself and the Commission. Mr.
Kotzuba stated that he "feels comfortable going along with it."

The
meeting lasted for all of about 15 minutes, with no questions or
concerns being voiced to the board. The Commission stressed that none
of these changes will be immediately enforced. Even after the signs are
all in place, the City will not begin ticketing until all of the
residents and local law enforcement are clear on the rules and
regulations.