Fence to bar kids from parking lot

PARIS — The town intends to erect a chain-link fence between the town office parking lot and a neighboring apartment building at 29 Market Square.

The board of selectmen voted to approve purchasing and erecting the chain-link fence during its meeting Tuesday.

Board Chair Sam Elliot said that children from the apartments had been using the town office parking lot as a playground resulting in damage to cars and broken windows at the town office.

"It just appears that it's gone on and it's recently been enough of a problem so it probably just means a fence is the only solution," Elliot said.

The fence would stretch along the edge of town property from the town office to the police station, reported Road Foreman Dan Nowell.

He said the fence would have a gate in it to allow access for emergency workers.

Interim Town Manager Elizabeth Knox told selectmen the situation had become increasingly dangerous for the children. 

"We've had numerous complaints about the kids almost getting hit [by cars]," Knox reported.

According to Knox, Police Chief David Verrier has spoken to the children, to little effect.

A winter parking ban that comes into effect soon means residents of the apartment building will not be able to use the town office parking lot overnight, she said.

"It's not what we wanted to do ... but we have had damage done to the building and broken windows and trash on the lawn and toys in the walkways," Knox told the board.

"We have a beautiful park and I don't understand why they're out in our parking lot," she said.

According to Knox, the building owner wasn't aware the fence was being erected.

Finance Director Marjorie Risica implied the parking lot was becoming a magnet for neighborhood children. She reported that after the town office closed, there were often 10 or more children playing in the parking lot.

She told the board the situation was becoming increasingly unsafe for children and the cost of the fence, $4,200, was well worth it compared to a child's life.