By Carol Britton Meyer

Police Chief John Dunn recommended this week – and the select board approved – the removal of all parking meters townwide, coupled with a proposal to move to a pay-by-phone app system that many communities around the state and country have already implemented.

An increase in parking fees was part of the recommendation, which will be discussed at a later date.

“The meters are antiquated and look bad,” Dunn told the select board, at the same time suggesting that any changes not be made until next year.

After some discussion, the board (Chair Irwin Nesoff was not present) approved the removal of the parking meters and a move from the current system to a pay-by-phone one, and to discuss parking fees at a future meeting after seeking input from businesses, the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce, and residents.

One-time cost to town for pay-by-phone system

The cost to the town to set up such a system is a one-time fee of about $1,500, with a six-to-eight week timeframe to get it up and running, according to Dunn.

He recently participated in a demonstration of the app by a representative of PayByPhone, which operates a digital payment system. (https://www.paybyphone.com)

The company charges 35 cents on a $2 parking payment, as an example, which is added to the parking fee. For instance, if a customer parks in the Surfside district, he or she would log into the app and be charged $2.35 an hour. Signage is included with the setup of the system.

The app allows law enforcement officers to log in to see who is in violation, and to issue a ticket accordingly. The real-time data system keeps track by license plate number.

Only half of town’s parking meters are operational

Of the 101 parking meters in Hull, only 56 are operational, with 20 missing, 19 jammed, and two beyond repair, according to Dunn. Repairs are costly “and can cost several hundred dollars,” he said.

While the current parking fees amount to between $7,000 and $9,000 annually, “after repair costs are factored in, there is hardly any revenue left for the town,” Dunn noted. New meters can cost from $1,500 to nearly $5,000, depending on the type and options.

A sampling of parking fees in the greater Boston area – many at 50 cents per half-hour mark and some considerably higher – revealed that Hull’s parking fees are comparatively a bargain.

Dunn noted that parking in the non-resident area at Pemberton near the ferry landing behind the high school is free, while town residents need a yearly sticker to park in the commuter lots.

He noted the current meter time limits and fees around town since 2003, all at 25 cents per hour with varying one- or two-hour limits, and all providing 30 minutes of free time, effective from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, including Sundays and holidays.

Another suggestion was to allow residents with stickers to continue to enjoy 30 minutes of free parking in Kenberma and adding signage to the area with updated information.

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