SALEM — City administrators have responded to concerns raised by Ridgewood Drive residents about street parking in the neighborhood.

In city council’s July 5 meeting three residents of Ridgewood Drive expressed frustration with the removal of street parking on the south side of the roadway in June, levying several accusations that it had been done unevenly, unfairly, without being discussed with the majority of residents and without their knowledge, and at the behest of a single resident. Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey and Safety Service Director Joe Cappuzzello categorically denied the accusations on Wednesday.

Dickey said that the initial change had been made to address complaints received from five separate residents on Ridgewood regarding another resident who they felt was abusing the privilege and potentially running an unofficial business out of their residence. She also noted that these complaints were received by Councilman Jeff Stockman, who represents residents in the city’s fourth ward.

“They were unhappy with a person doing multiple oil changes on the street that was leaving stains on their new road and causing traffic obstructions,” said Dickey.

Dickey said that initially the city had tried to address the issue directly; however, while city ordinance prohibits several types of home businesses including an automotive repair business, particularly ones which present traffic obstructions and high foot traffic in residential areas, proving the difference between a business and a hobby is difficult.

“You need to be able to prove what you say if you say its a business,” said Dickey.

Instead, the city attempted to address the issue through the city’s ordinance governing street parking, which Dickey noted does not permit parking outside of designated spaces, but had not been enforced previously. Dickey explained that when they tried to implement a partial ban with a sign prohibiting parking between it and the corner, and a subsequent sign extending the no parking zone further, that the subject of the complaints simply moved their vehicles further up the road in front of other neighbor’s homes. She also said that the length of the painted no-parking line which residents had questioned was similarly part of an attempted targeted solution, and that multiple residents had called to express their happiness with the change.

However, Cappuzzello said that following the comments of residents to city council and a submission of a petition from Ridgewood residents in the 1400 and 1500 block to have parking reinstated, the no parking signs past the end of the painted no-parking zone, and at the intersection of Ridgewood and Park Avenue have been taken down which he said may assuage some of those residents’ concerns.

“If you go past the yellow strip you can park all the way to Southeast [Boulevard],” said Cappuzzello.

They both also stressed that street parking was still permitted for special events like garage sales, family gatherings, or parties, and that residents simply needed to notify the police department or Cappuzzello in advance.

“We’ve always accommodated people for things like that, we just needed to address the complaints. In these little towns like Salem which weren’t originally planned development, parking issues and traffic obstructions are hard to resolve,” said Dickey.

Cappuzzello also responded to calls made by residents for a safety study justifying the change to be released.

“There was no secret report or safety study done. Those things aren’t required. When a resident or city council member comes to me with a concern I go and investigate the situation,” said Cappuzzello.

Cappuzzello and Dickey both emphasized that it was not a spur of the moment change, noting that both had spent multiple hours in the neighborhood speaking with residents on multiple days. They also said that the situation on Ridgewood was not unique, and that similar issues arise and have to be addressed all over the city.

“We don’t make blanket decisions or just do something for the sake of it. We consider all our options very seriously and try to address it in less disruptive ways first. We don’t get a complaint on Tuesday and just make a change that day,” said Cappuzzello.

“Every issue will have some people upset and some happy with any given solution and we really do weigh that and how many people will be affected by a decision,” said Dickey.