Council candidates clash over parking in first debate
Four hopefuls for the open Ward 3 seat faced questions from residents
Parking dominated the first debate among the four candidates for the Ward 3 council seat on Tuesday night, with sharp exchanges over whether the city should build a garage near the marina.
See also
Not everyone is convinced. A group of business owners along Front Street argued that the schedule leaves too little time to adapt, and asked for a longer transition period. The request will be discussed at the next public session.
The numbers behind the plan are modest by regional standards, but significant for a city the size of Port Ellery. According to figures released this week, the program will cost about $650,000 over three years, with roughly a third covered by state grants.
For Priya Natarajan, a resident of the East Harbor district for more than two decades, the announcement was overdue. "We have been asking for this since my kids were in school," she said. "I am glad it is finally moving, even if it is later than it should be."
Where the candidates stand
The measure passed with broad support after an amendment removed the most contested clause. Supporters called the compromise a practical way forward; critics said it postponed the hardest questions to a later date.
Staff at the Harbor Authority will hold three open sessions next month so residents can ask questions and review the maps. Dates and locations will be posted on the county website and at the public library.
Similar programs in nearby coastal towns have produced mixed results. In one case, participation exceeded projections within the first year; in another, delays in permitting pushed the launch back by almost twelve months.