Jackson parking meter contract has brought in no revenue this year; official says it could be ended but warns of litigation
JACKSON — Jackson's parking meter contract has produced no payments to the city this fiscal year, and the city's chief administrative officer told the City Council on Sept. 10 that the agreement could legally be ended — but that doing so would risk litigation.
The exchange came during the council's Sept. 10 budget hearing, when a councilman raised the parking meter contract's zero-revenue line in the budget and noted the contract has drawn public complaints for years.
The chief administrative officer, addressed during the meeting as "CEO," responded that the agreement was not locked in place. "Oh, the contract can be nullified. It's what are the consequences of nullifying that you really want to know?" the official said.
The official said the specifics should be discussed "in executive session" alongside a colleague identified in the meeting only as Mr. Martin. "I think we have a shared base of knowledge," the official said, "but it would involve potential litigation."
No further detail on the contract's terms, the vendor, or the nature of the potential litigation was given publicly at the hearing.
The council did not take action on the contract at the hearing. The parking meter contract's zero-revenue line remains part of the budget under review.