Police Commission Votes To Change West Wharf Parking Rules

Madison's Police Commission, which acts as the town's traffic authority, voted last week to make changes to parking rules on West Wharf Road, the street that runs from the Boston Post Road towards the town's Surf Club, West Wharf Beach and towards the new Madison Beach Hotel.

In a meeting Thursday afternoon, the commission voted to take down "no parking" signs on the west side of the road, as drivers travel south towards the water, First Selectman Fillmore McPherson said Monday morning. The Madison Country Club is located on the west side of the road.

"No parking" signs will be erected on the east side of the road, where homes are located, McPherson said.

Madison Police Commissioner Thom Cartledge said that the new "no parking" signs will have tow tags on them, warning violators that they may be towed.

Cartledge said that the traffic commission voted on a plan presented by Madison Director of Public Works & Town Engineer Michael J. Ott, and referred questions about the specifics of the plan to Ott. Ott said that further details about the plan voted on by the traffic commission were not available at this time. He did not say when they would become available.

Cartledge said that when the full details are written up by Ott, that they would be made public.

Parking on West Wharf was the subject of a discussion at at Police Commission meeting in May, but no action was taken at that time.

There are currently several "no parking" signs on the west side of West Wharf Road going towards the water, incuding one that is partially obscured by shrubbery. Cars are sometimes parked on that side of the road, often up on the grass, close to the Madison Country Club golf course, part of which is on that side of the road.