A proposal to give two parking permits each to West Broadway businesses without off-street parking stirred intense debate during Thursday night’s Jim Thorpe Borough Council workshop.

Council declined to say Thursday if it would put the proposal up for a vote next week when it convenes again, but West Broadway resident James Gilmore told the governing body it would be a major blow to what has been a successful permit parking program.

The ordinance, which took effect at the beginning of the year, allows residents of Broadway, West Broadway, High Street, Race Street, Hill Road and Quarry Street to purchase an annual permit for $15 that grants them a chance to park from 5-415 W. Broadway or anywhere on High Street without receiving a ticket. Motorists who do not have a permit and park in those areas are subject to a $50 fine.

“What you have in place has been working,” Gilmore said. “There were even a few open spots on West Broadway this past Saturday and Sunday night during a holiday weekend. But the fact remains that you have given out 286 parking permits, but there are only 148 available spaces. Taking away 14 more spots to give to businesses just simply won’t work.”

Michael Rivkin, a borough councilman and president of the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency, said members of the borough’s parking committee counted seven West Broadway businesses who would be eligible to receive two permits because they don’t have off-street parking.

“This is a compromise that respects West Broadway residents and businesses who are basically one and the same,” Rivkin said.

Other members of council also chimed in, with Bob Schaninger stating the proposal would get a “big hearty no” from him.

“I can’t go along with it,” he said. “I have put up for 32 years from May until the end of October with having to wait 15 minutes to come through town going across the bridge. This shows no respect to people in this town.”

Only existing West Broadway businesses without off-street parking would be eligible for the parking permits because borough ordinances call for all new businesses in that zoning district to provide for customer parking.

“I’m uncomfortable giving passes to some businesses without consideration for the future,” Councilwoman Jessica Crowley said. “A change such as this can cause a lot of hurt feelings and people will get upset that some are getting passes and others are not. I think we need to do something for businesses, I’m just not sure this is the answer.”

If West Broadway businesses do get two parking permits each, Gilmore fears tourists will visit those businesses to get the pass, but then spend all day downtown sucking up those precious spaces.

“They might go and get a crepe at the new crepe place, but then they’ll be downtown for five or six hours,” he said. “As residents, we can’t afford to lose those spaces.”

Other suggestions for changes to the permit parking ordinance include tightening up proof of residency measures.

“We’ve had reports of people who own property but don’t live there presenting that they do in order to obtain a permit and we’ve also had reports of permits being copied,” Council President Greg Strubinger said. “These are all cases where we want to eliminate those workarounds.”

Borough Manager Maureen Sterner said she would keep the permit parking items on next week’s action agenda and council could decide whether it wants to vote or continue to research other possibilities.