Business owners meeting with mayor on parking

Friday meeting seeks more action on eliminated spots

By:Audrey Levine
   Business owners will have a chance to discuss their concerns about the 36 eliminated parking spaces on Main Street when they meet with Mayor Angelo Corradino for a second time.
   "There isn’t a business on Main Street that is not complaining," said Oscar Gonzalez, co-owner of Discount Mattress and Furniture Co. on Main Street, and a member of the board of directors of the Manville Business and Professional Association (MBPA). "The customers are also livid because parking is not convenient now."
   Mr. Gonzalez said several business owners and members of the MBPA met with Mayor Corradino in early July after the spaces were eliminated when the county repainted the street.
   "The mayor was sympathetic and we came out with hope — but nothing concrete," Mr. Gonzalez said.
   After the first meeting, Mr. Gonzalez said the owners sent letters to Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Borough Council and other officials, detailing the problems of losing parking right in front of shops on Main Street.
   In addition, Mayor Corradino sent a letter to state Department of Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri asking what could be done for the town.
   Responses have not yet been received.
   "Hopefully something can now be done to rectify the situation," Mr. Gonzalez said.
   About seven months ago, Somerset County repaved Main Street, a county road. The county took away much of the parking based on state Title 39, which governs parking. It states that parking spaces cannot be placed across from an intersection.
   Following the law meant many parking spots on Main Street across from streets like South, Rosalie or Gladys streets would be eliminated — even though the spots are directly in front of Main Street businesses.
   "We knew the spaces would be restriped," Mr. Gonzalez said. "We hired (traffic engineer, Gary Dean of the Watchung Association), who said that Title 39 makes sense in a big town or city, not necessarily in Manville.
   "All the blocks are short in Manville, as is Main Street," he added.
   Now, however, Mr. Gonzalez said many customers are being inconvenienced as they can no longer park in spaces right in front of the different shops.
   "There are many senior citizens in Manville," he said. "In the heat wave we had two weeks ago, elderly people had to park three blocks away from stores, then walk in the heat. It is a safety issue."
   The next meeting will be held in the municipal complex on North Main Street at 9:30 a.m. Friday — with parking on North First Avenue.