May 3, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 9 . . No Change On 146th Street Move FROM PAGE 8 to drive to 142nd Street before making a U-turn on Coastal Highway to reach 146th Street and park. According to Balkcom, there are 60 parking spaces on 142nd Street and a potential for additional revenue versus the 40 parking spaces available on 146th Street “We enlarged the number of spaces and improved that street in order to put paid parking on there, that was the main objective to do that,” said Council President Lloyd Martin, who was not in favor of paid parking on 146th Street three years ago. “We listened to Ocean Place when you came to us a couple years go. We took that into consideration and that’s why we didn’t do it at that time. Since then, we have been watching that street …” Martin explained Fenwick Island residents or visitors are parking on Ocean City’s side of 146th Street first, as it is split in half with paid parking operated by Fenwick Island and free parking on the other. “We are looking at a loss in revenue for the town … what is happening is the overflow from Fenwick Island is flowing into Ocean City where they are not paying anything, and you are paying a tax, you have appropriated for your spaces but they don’t. Everything in Fenwick Island is paid parking,” Martin said. Balkcom disagreed with the council and reiterated the concern of not having the parking available when condo owners have family visit, as they are only allocated one to two parking spaces per condo. “We don’t know what we are going to do, we won’t be able to have our whole family here if you do this because we won’t be able to afford to go out and feed the meter every day,” he said. Mayor Rick Meehan pointed out there are 62 free parking spaces one street over on 145th Street along with a number of extra spaces the condominium has available in its parking lot for visitors. “These are difficult decisions and I can tell you the council weighs them very seriously and I understand what your concerns are and certainly the concerns of Ocean Place, although I think they can adapt to the change,” Meehan said. Delmarva Condominium Manager’s Association (DCMA) President Joe Groves suggested starting out with only installing paid parking in the premium parking spaces closest to the beach as conciliation. “There has to be a compromise or try to come to a consensus where we can all live with it,” Groves said. “You all have a very tough job right now to balance this budget, I understand that, but let’s look at other opportunities there in that area.” Welcome Springfest DUCK SEASON IS NOW OPEN! ✏✠✘✘✤¤✏✗✜✚ MON.-FRI. 3-6 P.M. DUCK PARTIES START 4-9 P.M. ✟✗✡✞✝✙❈¤✌✝✙¤s AARON HOWELL BIRD DOG & THE ROAD KINGS BO DICKERSON BAND OPEN DAILY 11 A.M. 311 TALBOT STREET • 410-289-9125 WWW.MRDUCKS.COM ✎✚✮✬✜✚✲❈¤✌✚✲¤❋ ✎✮✩✜✚✲❈¤✌✚✲¤❀