According to a press release, village officials reviewed its parking situation last year with a panel of professionals and experts brought together by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). MIT concluded that the village had enough parking, but was giving away its desirable spots and charging fees for parking in less-convenient locations.

According to the release, there are three aspects to the traffic situation being worked on now or in the planning stages. Paid parking most recently came on the table with three specific components making up the plan.

The first element calls for the use of pay and display machines in Doubleday Field Parking lot.

The plan is for the machines to be tested this summer in the lot with the eventual goal of expanding their use throughout the business district.

The machines accept coins and credit or debit cards and issue receipts that are displayed in the vehicle. According to the release, each machine can handle dozens of parking spaces and the proposed fee is 25 cents per 15 minutes.

Concurrent with the installation of pay and display machines, parking permit spaces would be made available for a proposed fee of $125 per year. Anyone with a valid vehicle registration would be able to purchase a permit.

Vehicles with permits would be able to park in the Doubleday Lot without needing pay and display receipts. A set number of parking spaces would be designated for permit holders only, although that number has not yet been determined.

The third element of the paid parking plan already exists in the form of seasonal trolley passes, the release said.

Rates are $35 per family, $20 per adult, $15 per senior citizen and $10 per student. Passes go on sale June 1 and are available at the village office.

As part of the changes being made to the parking situation, three new delivery zones have been designated on village streets, one on Main Street and two on Pioneer Street. This has been done to prevent the double-parking of delivery trucks in the business district and help alleviate congestion.

The delivery zones will be enforced once weather permits the zones to be painted on the pavement.

Work also continues on the Visitors Center at the village gatewaay on Route 28 North. The village received a $4.18 million federal transportation grant to improve the blue parking lot, improve traffic flow and construct the visitors center.

When the project is completed several years from now, the release states a larger number of visitors from the south are expected to park outside the village and use trolleys.

The village is seeking public input on the proposed plans. Written comments may be directed to the Police Committee, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Comments may also be submitted at the next Police Committee meeting, May 15 at 11 a.m. in the village meeting room.