HARTFORD — The town is grappling with a possible addition to its parking rules to clearly define “camping,” which is prohibited in municipal lots.
Some selectboard members worried it would create more hardship for the homeless population and criminalize them for being unhoused.
Town manager Gail Ostrout noted that she receives “100 messages a week” regarding vehicles that remain parked for an extended period and create hazards. With the current ordinance, police are not able to take action, aside from writing a ticket.
Hartford Police proposed adding a definition of camping to the town’s parking ordinance, Chapter 220, which reads:
“A person shall be deemed to be camping if they occupy a tent or other temporary shelter, or if they use a motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, trailer, or other conveyance as a residence or place to keep the majority of their personal belongings or household possessions, regardless of whether the person sleeps in the vehicle overnight.”
Already, the ordinance states that camping or overnight sleeping is not permitted in municipal lots, and violators will be towed. However, without a definition of camping, there’s too much gray area to enforce, said Lt. William Furnari of the Hartford Police community outreach division.
“We are not going out of our way looking for cars to tow. We are trying to address those folks who, through a pattern of behavior like this, are living in the parking lot in a way that is unsafe to folks,” said Furnari.
Selectboard member Miranda Dupre worries the definition is too subjective and is hesitant about the idea of making it “basically illegal to be homeless and safe,” she said at the meeting.
She further expressed that those without residences may be safest sleeping in their car there, and could just need somewhere to rest without bothering anyone.
“Where else do they go?” said Dupre.
Furnari argued that other community members aren’t feeling safe with the current situation of people essentially living in the public lots. Specifically, he pointed to those who disturb the peace and leave waste outside of the vehicle.
“We found some pretty bad stuff that we don’t want in our parking lot that could make people sick,” said Furnari.
Selectboard member Ashley Andreas said she worries this new definition will lead to police hassling more people, and that the language could apply to people who aren’t causing problems, including those who simply keep most of their belongings in the car or are struggling to find housing.
Andreas added that if police could provide alternative suggestions to the people told to leave, such as a different piece of land where camping may be more appropriate, it could help “address this problem more structurally before bringing on more enforcement,” she said.
While there is a strong effort to coordinate resources, it’s not always successful, said Ostrout.
“Everyone in the police department has made an attempt to be sensitive to people’s struggles and tried to come up with creative solutions around that,” said Ostrout.
Dupre said she worries the stricter ordinance could drive more people onto private properties as a last resort.
With police now enforcing metered street parking and directing more people to the free South Main parking lot, Furnari said the community has an incentive to make sure it’s safe and accessible for everyone.
Further, removal does not equate to an arrest.
“It’s a civil violation. It’s a traffic ticket or municipal ticket. I just want to clarify: it’s not an arrest,” said Chief Constance Kelley. “There’s no criminal affectation to it.”
Erik Krauss, the vice chair of the selectboard, said that while he appreciated the intent, the proposed definition, as it stands, is “not well crafted.” He suggested reaching out to the Vermont League of Cities and Towns for advice and referencing how other municipalities have defined camping before Hartford changes its ordinance.
The selectboard is passing along questions and requests regarding the new definition so Hartford Police can possibly return with a new version at the next regular meeting on Sept. 15 in Hartford Town Hall, 171 Bridge Street.
