Parking Hot Topic at Economic Summit

Parking continues to be a hot topic for Millburn-Short Hills business owners, but some solutions may be on the way.

The business community held a second summit on Tuesday night at Town Hall, and the meeting covered a range of topics including upcoming events and the business and consumer surveys. But parking was one of the biggest topics debated.

Gennaro Raimo, Downtown Millburn Development Alliance president, said business owners and town officials met with the company that installed the paymaster machines in several of the parking lots about making them more customer friendly.

All of the machines are slated to be upgraded so they will accept dollar bills, although they will not make change, he said.

Ralph Tarnofsky, Millburn-Short Hills Chamber of Commerce president, said he has spoken to people while they were using the paymaster machines and most felt they were an inconvenience.

Nearly every person, though, felt it would help if the machines accepted dollar bills, he said. Credit cards have their drawbacks, which is why they won't be added, he said.

Tarnofsky said the town is investing $23,000 to make the upgrade, which shows how responsive town officials are on the matter.

While the free parking lot off of Spring Street will remain free, Raimo said, it will require a sticker to use some time after June 1. The lot will be open to business owners' part-time employees to get the "meter feeders" off the street in front of the stores, Raimo said.

He also pointed out that lot 16, which is adjacent to the Department of Public Works, is available for those with business permits.

"You'll need to walk more, but there's space available there," he said.

However Nita Novy, who owns Nita Ideas, was not happy that there was free parking available for some businesses while other owners had already purchased a business parking permit for their employees. She questioned why business owners were not being encouraged to purchase the business permits.

Teddy Stampoulos, Martini Bistro & Bar owner, who chaired the meeting, said changes are being made, but they will have to "crawl before we can walk." The main point at this point is to get the cars off the street, he said.

But while business leaders are working to improve the downtown parking situation, business owners on Millburn Avenue in Short Hills raised new issues.

Lloyd Perkel, M. Blaustein Furs co-owner, said there are "meter feeders" from the restaurant in the area, taking up the parking on one side of the road.

Additionally the parking lot is under-utilized, he said. There are not enough metered spaces for customers, but the permit parking for businesses is under-used.

"I counted 20 empty (business permit) spaces today," he said. "There could be some extra money for the town."

Business leaders also outlined how they want to fill every store, including with businesses the community wants. Shayne Miller, chamber vice president, said the ongoing consumer and business survey will help determine what consumers want.

"A full, eclectic town will do better than any marketing we can do," he said.

Richard Futter, who owns Futter Shoes, said the township should offer a tax abatement to entice building owners to bring in the type of businesses people want.

But Downtown Millburn Development Alliance executive director Harold Klein said an ordinance could not be targeted towards certain businesses for a tax abatement.

Futter countered that the town has a lot of "screwy ordinances," but he knows his proposal probably won't be enacted.

Tarnofsky also outlined a Millburn pride event, which is scheduled for Aug. 24 at the Hilton Short Hills. Musician Richie Furay, who played with Buffalo Springfield and Poco, is to perform for the event, which would be a fund-raiser for the chamber.

Miller said the event will cost around $39 or $65 for a VIP pass. Further details are coming, he said.

Klein also said a fashion show featuring local businesses involved in the industry will be held in October. The event will raise money for a community organization, although the specific group has yet to be determined, he said.