Disabled, low-income Arlington residents now eligible for free overnight parking

March 29-- Mar. 29--The Arlington Select Board voted to approve a plan that will issue overnight parking exemptions to residents who are handicapped or who fall below an income threshold.

"It creates another type of overnight parking permit," Town Counsel Doug Heim told the Select Board. "There are discretionary overnight permits, and then there are permits by an administrative exemption process, where folks with documented disabilities or folks that meet certain economic hardships can meet the criteria and get an overnight exemption."

The issue was raised by multiple disability advocates in town who spoke with the Select Board last month about potentially creating exemptions for residents with handicaps, as well as lower-income residents. Data was cited that suggests that residents with mobility issues are more reliant on car transportation than residents who are not disabled. The Board discussed the issue last month and agreed to discuss it again once an official proposal was constructed by Heim.

Heim said that the Select Board has two options: the first would be for the Board to directly shape the policies themselves; the second, go to Town Meeting and get a recommendation from Town Meeting to shape the policies. Select Board member Joe Curro said that he preferred the former strategy, which would allow for a more direct result.

"The more I thought about it, it's a little odd for us to go to Town Meeting and say that we recommend Town Meeting to admonish us for not making these policy changes. I think that we should make the policy changes and fix them," Curro said.

The rest of the Board agreed that the best path forward would be for the Select Board to shape the policy.

"The problem is most prevalent in East Arlington, and we are really struggling, so I really appreciate this way forward," Select Board member Clarissa Rowe said.

Following the Select Board's approval, residents who meet a certain economic or handicapped qualification can fill out an application to apply for an overnight parking permit. Applicants can submit an application through the Select Board's office. Applicants would be granted a space in a municipal lot or given an on-street parking spot.

Applicants claiming an exemption for disability would require proof of qualification, such as a handicap parking plate, enrollment in SSDI or a letter from a medical professional. Applicants claiming an exemption for economic hardship would require participation in a benefits program such as Medicaid, SSI, or other eligibility for need-based which demonstrates income below 80 percent of the area median income.

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