Terminally Ill Natick Resident Fuming Over Unfair Parking Ticket

Kathy Sorabella says in the 25 years she's lived in Natick, this has never happened in her Lincoln Street neighborhood.

During the Board of Selectmen's Sept. 9 meeting, Sorabella said she and about 15 other neighbors on Lincoln Street were ticketed the day before during the Food Truck Festival.

Sorabella, who has terminal cancer, said she didn't know the festival was coming and didn't see a "No Parking" sign by her house.

"In the morning and within two hours (of the event), cars parked there all got parking tickets," she said. "There was no advance notice. I was shocked to see all the tickets. My only concern is if I reregister and there’s a lien for a $20 parking ticket ... I didn’t know this festival was coming. I have a serious illness (and it's difficult) checking with the paper every day."

Selectman Vice Chair Joshua Ostroff said Sorabella's street wasn't the only one with restrictions for the festival.

"So people understand, there were a number of streets posted with no parking signs for emergency access," he said, adding that the Board doesn't rescind parking tickets. "Town Administrator Martha White and the police chief will get a report and she will have a recommendation. I think the town put a lot thought into the event, but it wasn’t perfect. Safety was the main thing, inconveniencing people (wasn’t)."

Selectman Charles Hughes advised the issue be resolved sooner rather than later since parking tickets are time-sensitive. 

"No one should be concerned with a lien on their car," Ostroff said.

Sorabella said residents have always been allowed to park on Lincoln Street.

"We’ve been through many, many events, and this never happened before," she said.

Ostroff said the issue would be resolved in a couple of days.

"This will be resolved before our next meeting," he said.