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The unanimous vote, proposed by Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont, followed a report from the police chief that six village streets were crowded with cars owned by non-residents -- including some motorists from Connecticut.
By a 5-0 vote, the village board approved posting a new "four-hour limit" sign along Nelson, Ellsworth and Webster avenues, as well as Brown Place.
Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini said a six-day survey of streets near the Harrison Train Station found as many as 53 cars parked all day on some village streets that already are posted with parking restrictions.
Marraccini, in response to questions from village residents, said police use discretion before ticketing a car left parked for more than 24 hours by an elderly, sick or disabled resident. Relatives of family members or out-of-town visitors also might be parking there as well as maintenance or building contractors. So typically, Harrison police will not ticket a car unless a complaint is made, he said.
"We do use discretion,'' Marraccini said, "but I can't be selective in enforcement on a daily basis."
The new parking limits will be in effect weekdays only, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., excluding holidays.
Police also identified continued parking problems caused by suspected train commuters along Hyatt Avenue as well as along Fremont and Holland streets, despite signs already limiting long-term parking there.
To address a broader parking problem, Harrison has proposed distributing long-term parking permits to residents to assure they can park ticket-free in neighborhoods closest to the train station. The proposed local law is still being revised and remains open to public comment.
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