Council reverses position on Fort Williams fees

The Cape Elizabeth Town Council unanimously voted Monday against implementing a pay/display parking fee system at Fort Williams Park.

In an advisory referendum last week, residents rejected the parking fee idea by a margin of 68 to 32 percent, or 2,532 to 1,262.

In 2006, Cape Elizabeth voters defeated a similar measure 3,145 to 1,951 or 62 to 38 percent.

Last February, the council voted 5-2 in favor of the system that, if approved, was scheduled to take effect April 1, 2011, and be in place every year from April 1 through Nov. 1. 

The pay/display system would have required Cape Elizabeth residents to pay $10 per year for a season pass while non-residents would have paid $20 per year. Visitors in passenger vehicles would have been charged $5 per day if they did not want to buy a season pass. 

In a separate motion Monday, the council voted 6-1 against charging fees for buses and trolleys using the park. Councilor Jessica Sullivan voted against the measure.

Last February, the council unanimously approved charging parking fees for buses and trolleys, a policy that would have been effective April 1, 2011.

                                               –Compiled by Rick Wright