By Katie Farrell
Staff writer
August 13, 2008 03:52 am NEWBURYPORT — The city's parking ticket officer may be turning green. The City Council is asking the mayor to buy a hybrid car as the city looks to replace the parking enforcement officer's vehicle. "This is an opportunity for us, for the first time, to buy a hybrid vehicle," at-large Councilor Donna Holaday said, noting that Newburyport is earning a reputation as a "green city." The council was considering a request by Mayor John Moak to transfer $17,500 in the budget to fund a new vehicle. The car has "outlived its useful life," and it would not be cost-effective to fund future repairs, the mayor said. That request includes adding equipment to the car, such as lights. Holaday said the parking officer's car desperately needs to be replaced. Her concerns stem from the amount of emissions the car gives off as idea that the parking vehicle idles all the time, Holaday said. She asked the council to agree to fund the item up to $24,500, with the mayor's approval, in order to buy a hybrid. Mayor John Moak said yesterday he is considering the request but questioned why the council would agree to fund the purchase of one town-owned vehicle more than requested while denying another vehicle purchase all together. The council denied a $26,000 transfer request to fund a new police cruiser on Monday. The police fleet is in need of some replacements, Moak said, while the council is considering adding an extra $7,000 to buy a hybrid for the parking enforcement officer. Moak said the city will need to buy a new parking enforcement vehicle very soon. The car, a 2001, is up for inspection and will not pass, the mayor said. The city is considering buying a Toyota Corolla, he said. Moak has been supportive of environmentally friendly initiatives in the city, which recently formed an energy commission, among other plans. "I have to think about it," Moak said.
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