Ever since Jim Thorpe Borough Council passed its permit parking ordinance last year, the governing body has been pushed to make changes, mainly when the ordinance is in effect and how permit holders can obtain guest passes.

After months of public comment on the issue, council set a firm timeline last week as to when it would consider any amendments.

“I think the end of June is a fair timeline and then council can consider any changes at the July workshop meeting,” Council President Greg Strubinger said.

The ordinance, which went into effect in January, 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.

Council was again approached with comments Thursday night on both sides of the debate.

Reed Confer, representing the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency, repeated the organization’s request for the ordinance to only be in effect on weekday evenings, weekends and federal holidays.

“This would allow for some relief for business owners during the day to give employees and customers opportunities to park in those spots,” Confer said.

Jim Thorpe Planning Commission Chairman Louis Hall said the original intent of the ordinance was for the spots to be open to anyone during the daytime hours on weekdays.

“Going that route was the result of the research we did,” Hall said. “Most of the people are working at that time and many of those spots are open. That would enable a lot of people to be able to park without having to go to county lot.”

Council’s decision to put it in effect 24 hours a day, Strubinger said, was based on comments it heard from residents.

“We took a lot of things into consideration when finalizing this,” he said. “We’re not saying things won’t change, but how can you evaluate something if you don’t give it time. If something isn’t working, we’ll change it. We knew this wasn’t going to be perfect on the first try.”

One West Broadway resident who has repeatedly voiced his opinion that the ordinance is working is Jim Gilmore.

On Thursday, Gilmore told council that those advocating limiting the ordinance to weeknights and weekends are operating under the misconception that everyone works a 9-5, Monday through Friday job.

“We tried for years for this ordinance so that we would have a chance to park, not in front of our house, but just somewhere near our house,” Gilmore said. “We couldn’t go away weekends before. I think it’s working out good so far. There have been 235 permits issued and sometimes you see empty spots because the people who park there are not home at the time.”

Betty Lou McBride, who for many years ran the Old Jail Museum in town, told council taking away parking spots during the day could hurt local businesses.

“Whether people like tourism or not, it keeps us going and keeps us from looking like a lot of our neighboring towns,” McBride said. “You want to help people of course, but what’s going to happen if you cut off the businesses? If you start losing business, you lose the bed-and-breakfasts and vacation rentals as well.”

Also on Thursday, Francine Cooper, who owns Works By Cooper on Broadway, asked council to consider giving each business one permit.

“I don’t feel comfortable parking in the county lot and having to go down there by myself late at night,” Cooper said. “It’s along the river and the railroad and it can be uncomfortable to be in an unattended lot.”