A local restaurant owner and a former mayor of Norwalk are taking seats on the town Parking Authority.
Ancient Mariner owner Jessica Wilmot, a lifelong Ridgefielder, and former Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia were named to vacancies on the Parking Authority after separate interviews at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting Wednesday, Feb. 17.
“I’ve been here since 1955, I’ve seen everything grow,” Wilmot told the selectmen.
“I’m impressed you’re here, owning a restaurant in Ridgefield,” said Selectman Steve Zemo.
“What brought me here is Billy Craig called me and asked me to consider this,” Wilmot said.
Parking is a problem she’s familiar with.
“I probably serve 1,800 people a week. I have a lot of conversations with people about parking,” Wilmot said.
“I think something fresh needs to happen,” she said. “I do have a personal interest in getting some of the problems solved.”
Selectwoman Maureen Kozlark asked if, as the owner of a business, conflict of interest was a concern.
Wilmot said she could view the town’s parking problems “as a customer, a resident, a business owner, and someone who shops in town.”
She added, “I think I can look at it from a lot of perspectives.”
The vote appointing her was 4-to-0.
Moccia, a Republican, was elected mayor of Norwalk for four terms, serving from 2005 to 2013. He moved in late 2014 to Ridgefield, where his daughter and son-in-law have lived the last 14 years, he said.
He’s read the results of the “town survey” that had several questions on village parking.
“It’s interesting most residents don’t want a garage, and don’t want metered parking,” Moccia said.
Yet they’d also said the parking situation is better in places like New Canaan, which has meters, and Danbury with two parking garages.
He became interested in the vacancy after talking to people about the town’s parking difficulties.
“I just felt it was something I can help the town on,” he said.
“I know it can be a difficult situation, but I’ve been through a few difficulties before.”
The selectmen voted 4-to-0 to put him on the authority.
“I look at it, this is a guy who’s dealt with a lot of people,” said Selectman Steve Zemo. “We’re looking for different skill sets.”
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