Parking Services Attendants Brave Rain and Cold, Automated Machines Coming Soon
By C2M Staff Reporter Lauren Jost
Everyone has been enduring the cold wintry days on and off this October, but no one has been battling them more than the Rappahannock Parking Deck attendants.
On the bottom visitor’s floor of the new parking deck, Parking Services attendants sat just on a chair under the structure taking money and handing out all-day parking permits. With the weather getting colder and the rain with seemingly no end in sight, one has to wonder about the attendants’ warmth.
Parking Services Attendants are bundled in Mason fleece, hats, and other cold weather garb while braving the cold, but not for much longer. Josh Cantor, Director of Parking and Transportation, says that the attendants are only there until automated ticket machines are installed.
Parking Services employees are issued jackets and hats, and are well aware of the outside aspect of their jobs and are no strangers to the cold – but they usually expect such weather in December, not October.
“Part of the responsibility falls on the individual employee to also dress appropriately based on their own comfort level,” said Cantor. “While we had some today in heavier jackets, we had some still out in just a fleece or even one brave soul who just wanted to wear their uniform shirt.”
Eyerusalem Belay, also known as “Jerry,” is a Rappahannock Parking Deck attendant as well as a Mason student who doesn’t like sitting out in the cold all that much.
“I have gloves, but it’s hard to work in them,” explained Belay. “Most of the time when it gets too cold, I try and sit in my car because I don’t want to get sick.”
All Parking Services employees are given 10 minute breaks every four hours, and in extenuating circumstances such as extreme weather, Cantor says the Parking Services administration is more lenient in making sure the attendants aren’t exposed for too long.
Belay keeps warm by wearing the Mason issued fleece and hat, but also has a portable DVD player by her side playing music, because dancing keeps her warm. There are no portable heaters near the attendants, although coffee cups and fleece are aplenty.
“Our booths at Mason Pond and at Sandy Creek have small heaters,” said Cantor. “With the attendants at Rappahannock, if they have a heater that adheres to University fire safety rules-basically must be the modern ones that turn off when tipped over- that's okay with us.”
The all-day six-dollar rate will no longer apply once the machines are up and running. Instead, there will be a pre-paid machine charging the same hourly rates as Mason Pond and Sandy Creek parking decks. The difference being if tickets are left unpaid there will be a “parking overtime fine” of $25.
When asked if they liked cocoa, all attendants replied “Yes.”
Student Media Group:
Tags: