Sussex parking permits to cost $40 a month

The cost of monthly permits in Sussex parking lots are increasing $15, according to a measure approved by the Borough Council on Dec. 20.

A monthly permit for a spot in the borough-owned lots on Harrison and Mill streets will increase to $40 effective immediately.

The vote was 5-1, with Councilman Mario Poggi opposed.

“This 60 percent increase in parking costs I think is absurd, and I’m a ‘hard no’ on that,” he said.

“I think it also takes advantage of people who are coming back. Chase Bank, which is paying nothing now, all of sudden they find themselves needing a parking spot. It’s not a $15 increase. It’s a $40 increase.”

Councilman Charles Fronheiser disagreed.

“If we want to make a parking lot down on Mill Street, then I don’t think the borough residents should have to pay for a parking spot for the tenants on Main Street,” he said. “I think we need to go with the $40.”

Township Administrator Antoinette Smith said the fee was $25 when she started working for the borough in 2012, and it has not changed since then.

“We’re trying to play catch-up,” Mayor Edward Meyer said. “Then we’re trying to improve the parking lots and create more spaces, and in order to do that, we need funds.”