The village of Cazenovia, at the request of concerned citizens and downtown business owners, is taking several steps to try to alleviate the problem of parking in the village.

At a meeting Monday Nov. 16, the board considered a courtesy parking program similar to a program in Skaneateles, which would give those who would normally receive a parking ticket a warning instead.

Merchants at a village board meeting Nov. 2 were concerned that out-of-town shoppers have been discouraged by parking tickets after dining out and shopping in Cazenovia. Village board members hope that a new courtesy parking program might alleviate those problems.

To prepare for the busy holiday season, the village has tackled smaller, short-term parking issues. A new sign at the corner of Mill and Albany Street informs visitors of the free parking in the Cazenovia Public Library lot.

The village also designated a parking spot at the corner of Lincklaen and Albany Street as an additional handicapped spot.

“We had none on this side of the street at this end of town,” said Peggy Van Arnam, village of Cazenovia trustee.

Van Arnam is forming a parking committee to consider possible ways to ease parking issues in the village.

Merchants also asked the village to address a lack of overnight parking and over two-hour parking, which they said has been especially problematic for downtown residents.