The board has listened to public comment during two earlier informational meetings and a public hearing in October which remains open for the meeting Monday.

The idea of paid parking was prompted by suggestions at an MIT conference attended by Mayor Carol Waller which noted the village was approaching parking backward by giving away the best spots for free. Paid parking also opened the door to a much-needed, new revenue stream which trustees and the mayor believed would help relieve some of the burden on taxpayers.

Police committee members first looked only at the Doubleday Field lot because it offered an opportunity to begin a program at a cost much below that of street-side parking.

However, concerns about parking for downtown employees prompted the committee to look beyond the lot and this fall it recommended to the trustees a plan featuring a lost-cost permit that called for paid parking on Main and Pioneer Streets and in three village lots.

During two informational meetings, the board listened to many positive comments from residents and appeared ready to approve the plan, but trustee Eric Hage interrupted the process by proposing a different plan that focused again on Doubleday Field.

In a standing room only public hearing last month, the board heard from downtown merchants who were worried about the impact of street-side paid parking on area residents and regional tourists who more frequently visit the village. Concerns were also expressed about what many people saw as uncertain cost and revenue projections for the plan.

This month the board held two special meetings to work on the plan and reached a consensus by a 4-3 straw vote to pursue paid parking on the streets and in three village-owned lots. Trustees, Katz, Kuhn, Kull and Mebust voted for the plan and Mayor Waller and trustees Hage and Stewart were opposed. Despite the consensus, the debate continued about the merits of each approach.

The prospect of another large turnout Monday night prompted the Mayor Waller to move the meeting to the middle/high school auditorium.

``It’s a big issue. The more I think about it, the more I worry about our diverse merchants. Let’s study it a little more and just do Doubleday Field this year,’’ said Waller, who often expressed her opposition to the street-side parking plan during the last two meetings.

Trustee Jeff Katz said Wednesday morning he had seen the signs proclaiming `no paid parking,’ but did not feel it indicated a growing opposition to the proposal.

He said the board had heard from a number of people during the meetings and hearings _ some in opposition and some in favor. The signs in the village most likely represent the opinions of people the board has already heard from.

The board, Katz said, has listened to their concerns and has tried to address them.

The meeting will be held Monday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the middle/high school auditorium.