Instead, the board scheduled a special meeting later this month to again try and hammer out the details of how paid parking would be implemented.

In a special meeting two days after listening to public comment on the proposed local law and an accompanying set of guidelines recommended by the police committee, the board appeared ready to endorse them both. It was left to the police committee to fine tune the guidelines last week in time for Monday night’s meeting, but trustee Eric Hage presented the committee with his own proposed guidelines and asked for extra time.

Hage said repeatedly that he wanted to make sure the board got it right.

Again Monday night, Hage pleaded for extra time ``for all of us to deliberate on the guidelines.’’

``I’m worried we’re going to rush through this,’’ he said.

Hage reviewed minutes of the public informational meetings which he believes indicated there was ample support for his proposal, which is aimed at trying to derive more revenue from the Doubleday Field parking lot.

Trustee Jeff Katz questioned the process and how Hage came in at the eleventh hour and dropped his proposal on the table.

``In two week if I come up with my own Jeff Katz proposal do we delay again for two more weeks?’’ he asked.

Police committee member Lynne Mebust said the original proposal recommended to the board by the committee was the result of a long process and input from many people. It was the best way they had found to address many of the issues related to paid parking.

Katz said he was ``ticked off’’ now that there is the police committee proposal and the Eric Hage proposal. ``This really subverted this process,’’ Katz said.

He suggested voting on the local law and the guidelines Monday night, but the police committee had not made the revisions to the guidelines after Hage introduced his proposal.

Police committee chairman Paul Kuhn said the members had told Hage they would agree to wait so his proposal could be considered, and he made a motion to schedule a special meeting. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-2 with Katz and Mebust dissenting.

The special meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m.

Earlier in Monday night’s meeting, the board conducted the required public hearing on the local law to establish paid parking, which drew generally positive comments.

Peggy Poulson told the board she thinks paid parking is terrific. ``The more money you can get from parking, the happier I’ll be,’’ she said.

Frank Leo of the Tunnicliff Inn, told the board to keep it simple. Employees will always find a place to park, Leo said. ``I’ve been here 15 years and not once have I not found a parking space somewhere,’’ he said.

The Otesaga Hotel’s John Irvin said he is in favor of paid parking, but said the two parking lots should not be permit parking because it cuts into the amount of revenue which could be made.

He added that he believes the tax rebate suggested by Hage would just create more paperwork. The village, he said, should keep the money and put it to good use.

Lake Street resident Carl Good commented ``paid parking is unquestionably the way to go,’’ adding that ``the more we talk about it the more confused I get.’’

``It’s time for us to get paid for the wear and tear on the village," said Rick Hulse.

Katz responded to some calls for maximizing the return from Doubleday Field by saying there is the question of the community at large.

Mebust explained the police committee proposal was an attempt to balance the need for revenue with the impact paid parking will have on residents.

Former trustee Stephen Mahlum recommended the board pass the law and go from there.

``I think we’ve heard some good ideas, but we have to start somewhere. We have to put something in place by next summer,’’ he said.

``The only thing I’m asking for is a special meeting to discuss paid parking,’’ Hage said. ``I think what I’m asking for is reasonable.’’

Kuhn replied that if the village creates a parking system to squeeze out every dollar, ``it will be a failure.’’

``We have to take into account all people. If we ignore them, the system will be a dismal failure.’’