By Stewart S Lilker

Freeport’s Mayor, William F. Glacken, in his quest to fill the ever emptying village coffers, has chosen not to erect signs in the village’s deteriorating municipal parking lots informing motorists of the hours of metered parking. While NYS Law requires the posting of official signs explaining the parking regulations in municipal parking lots, the Glackenites have chosen not to do this, preferring to ticket unsuspecting motorists instead.

Freeport’s parking meters and parking lots are some of the most decrepit in the county. Long time Freeport resident and president of the NW Civic Association, Ken Bagatelle, told your reporter, "The last time I can remember the meters being painted was forty-one years ago, when I painted them to earn money to go to college."

Gearing up to nab violators, in June of 2000, after everyone went home, the secretive Glackenites approved the creation of two Parking Meter Attendants with a beginning salary of $23, 228 each per year.

Glacken kept spending. In July of 2000, the Glackenites approved the bonding of $100,000 "for the replacement of parking meters." FreeportNYNews has not been able to find any replaced meters.

In April of 2001, in order to increase revenues, the Glackenites approved the expenditure of $196,037.50 to change the meter assemblies, so that they could raise the metered parking fees to a quarter an hour. Three months later in July, the Glackenites raised the rates.

In this year's village budget, the Glackenites called for the residents to support six parking meter attendants with combined salaries of $186,000 before benefits.

After spending all this money, residents are embarrassed by the appearance of Freeport’s parking lots and their meters and wonder why there are no signs posted showing the hours of metered parking. Readable notices on the meters, which state the hours of operation, are non-existent.

Motorists are fair game in all village municipal parking lots, but the village’s favorite spot for bushwhacking unsuspecting motorists appears to be the municipal lot at the Freeport Public Library.

One afternoon this week, your reporter asked Assistant Library Director, Laura Gouket, if the metered parking was in effect on the weekends. She said, "I’ve been telling people they didn’t have to worry about it. They don’t give tickets on Saturday."

Your reporter said, "You can notice that there is a tag on the meter which states, 'Regulated parking during hours shown.' Can you find the times on the meter?" Ms. Goudket took a good look smiled and said, "No, there is nothing there."

Your reporter said, "Take another look, there is a tag on the meter." Ms. Goudket looked again and said, "Get outa here!"

Freeport resident, Carol Nelson, happened by after another library employee, Ronnie Tiffany couldn’t find any sign or decal on the meter explaining the regulated parking times. Ms. Nelson really gave it the college try, peering all over the meter on her tiptoes. After Ms. Nelson gave up, your reporter pointed out the tag, which was installed upside down in the back of the meter (the last photo), behind a piece of plastic, which was frosted from the sun, making the writing incomprehensible. Ms. Nelson said, "Come on, who could read that."

To add insult to injury, those that have been putting money in the meters on Sunday and after six on other days, when no fee is required, might have had their quarters stolen. A confidential source has informed FreeportNYNews that, "Someone got a key to the meters and has been stealing money. It has stopped lately. The police department is investigating, but they can’t find the person."