Bickering over parking spaces called “petty,” board puts end to drama

DOVER - At Tuesday’s Dover Selectboard meeting, Meredith Anton, president of the Dover Free Library board of trustees, updated the selectboard about an ongoing issue between the library and Kids in the Country day care over their shared parking lot. After some discussion, the board unanimously approved a motion to unilaterally change how employees of the library and day care center may park.
The library and day care center share a building, which has a small parking lot outside of it. Adjacent to the lot is a larger lot, technically for Dover Town Hall, which is largely unoccupied most days. Under the board’s new decision, employees will need to park in the town hall parking lot instead of the shared library and day care lot. 
The decision didn’t come out of nowhere; the matter has some history. In October 2017, library director John Flores and then-board president Hillary Twining came to the selectboard to request new line painting and signage in the shared parking lot to discourage parents from leaving idling cars in front of the library entrance when dropping off and picking up their children. Instead, they said, a different drop-off zone would be established farther from the library’s entrance. 
Minutes for that meeting indicate that selectboard vice chair Vicki Capitani asked if the day care was on board with the plan. Flores and Twining said they had made the day care aware and “did not receive much feedback.” 
It appears now that the day care was not on board with the plan, and months of back and forth have ensued. 
Though staff parking was not directly referenced when the library approached the board in October, through Anton’s discussion with the selectboard Tuesday it became clear that it is a contributing factor to the problem the library was seeking to address. If staff park in the shared lot, there are fewer spots available for parents and library patrons, and thus drop-offs and pick-ups are more likely to involve idling cars in front of entrances.
Anton said that at the library board of trustees’ last meeting, which occurred on Friday, June 1, she thought an agreement had been met between the library and the day care regarding how the parking lot would be used. Mainly, that a five-minute drop-off zone would be established to cater to both businesses and that the shared lot would be reserved for patrons of both businesses, not employees. 
“What we agreed upon Friday is that the parking spots farthest from the building would not be occupied by the day care staff,” said Anton. “The library staff has been voluntarily not parking in any of the (shared lot) spots.” 
However, hours before Tuesday’s meeting, she’d received a call from Flores and children’s librarian Tamara Hamm saying they wanted to put the matter on hold because they wanted it in writing that the day care’s staff would not occupy the main parking lot area.  
Anton, speaking not as the library board’s president but as a citizen, said she thought it  may be time for the selectboard to intervene, noting that a great deal of work and planning had gone into figuring out who could park where and when. 
“I don’t want to just completely necessarily tank everything that’s been considered because if the needs of both parties can be met, then that’s good,” said Anton. “But the pettiness level has gotten to a point where I don’t know if there’s a quick end coming here. I personally think that the overflow parking of the town hall provides so much parking that it’s kind of ridiculous not to even consider that.”
Library board member Kevin Stine said it was his understanding that some employees didn’t want to park away from the building because of issues with ice. Selectboard member Joe Mahon did not have sympathy. “When it’s icy you put (strap-on traction cleats) on your boots,” said Mahon. “It’s part of living in Vermont.”
Capitani acknowledged that the board did not check with the day care before acting on the library’s request for new painting and signage. 
“I’m just so confused about the library coming here and giving us a plan that the day care had supposedly approved,” said Capitani. “It was our bad we didn’t go back to the day care and ask if they approved it. But we spent money, drew lines. And I don’t understand why this issue hasn’t been resolved.” 
Capitani suggested the parking lot could be first come, first served. “Unless you’re handicapped, they’re not saving you a parking spot at the grocery store,” said Capitani.  “This is extremely petty. I’m done with this. We spent money, drew lines, got signage. These are adults. They need to come to the table. Either all employees park (in a separate lot) or it’s first come, first served.” 
Cohen said if it would help, he would be happy to say no employees could park in the shared lot. “Customers come first,” said Cohen. Ultimately, Capitani introduced a motion to do so. The motion passed unanimously. 
Police chief Randy Johnson warned the board not to call him to enforce the parking rule. “It’s not enforceable,” he said. 
“It’s a statement,” said Cohen.