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Paid parking will resume in the waterfront area and the downtown business district on April 1.

“I ask everyone to prepare themselves for that,” said Mayor Ed Johnson at the council’s workshop session last night. “It’s well past time.”

Paid parking had been suspended while parking pay stations were replaced after sustaining damage due to Hurricane Sandy almost five months ago. Last night, the council voted 3-0 to resume the use of the meters on April 1. Councilman Kevin Sanders was not present for the meeting and Johnson left before the vote.

Fifty out of 57 damaged pay stations have been replaced, said city engineer Joe Cunha. The city will be testing the pay stations during the next week to ensure that their communications systems are operating properly, with the testing expected to be completed about a week before the meters are to be activated, he said.

There is currently a three-hour parking limit in spaces which are normally subject to paid parking.

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