HAVERHILL — Closing the Merrimack Street Parking Deck at 10 p.m. "will mean gridlock" downtown, especially during the winter, according to City Councilor David Hall.

The ordinance that governs the parking deck already bars people from putting their cars there after midnight, but that rule is not rigidly enforced. Even Hall admitted he did not realize vehicles are supposed to be out of there by midnight.

Mayor James Fiorentini asked the City Council last week to amend the parking deck ordinance to keep cars out of the facility after 10 p.m. He said he wants to save energy and money by shutting off the lights there during late-night and early morning hours.

Noting that the post office puts mail trucks there during snowstorms and that downtown residents have limited options for parking, Hall pledged to fight the change. He discussed the issue with the mayor and Fiorentini admitted Hall voiced some "legitimate concerns."

The mayor said he would be willing to have the council table his request until a better solution can be worked out.

"All I care about is being able to turn off the lights," said Fiorentini, who mentioned driving by the deck late one night and seeing the place "lit up like a Christmas tree."

Hall said he will not support an ordinance change that "deprives citizens the right to use a public facility."

At last night's council meeting, he said he would like to see the issue go to the Traffic and Safety Committee, where police Chief Alan DeNaro and other public safety officials can offer their ideas.

Councilor William Macek said the parking deck, which has more than 650 spaces on two levels, should be available to residents during snow emergencies.

"We need to revisit the ordinance," Macek said.

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