Camden municipal staff and Pennsylvania-based parking kiosk installers have been busy since Monday afternoon cleaning the screens, card readers and receipt printer ports of Camden's new parking kiosks that were vandalized between 3 and 4 a.m. Sept. 8, the Camden Town Office said Sept. 9.

The machines are being evaluated and tested, and parts will be ordered to replace non-functioning readers as needed. Cost estimates to mitigate the damage are still being determined, the town said, in its Tuesday morning update.

"Camden police continue to receive video of the perpetrator as they walked around town, darting around corners to avoid early-morning delivery trucks," the town said. "Police have also received a few tips about the identity of the individual following announcement of a reward for information and apprehension of the person(s) responsible for the damage. The machines had not yet been insured, as they were being installed over the weekend.

"The town’s expanded paid parking program was due to roll out Monday, Sept. 15, but a delay in delivery of the software to register Camden residents for their free two hours of daily parking during the season (May 15-Oct. 15) has prompted a delay in roll-out of the program and additional details. As the end of the season nears, further evaluation continues.

"Anyone with information about the vandalism and the identity of those responsible are urged to contact Camden Police Detective Sgt. Aaron Bailey at 207-236-7953 ext. 113 or by email at abailey@camdenmaine.gov. There is a $5,000 reward being offered."

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UPDATE: Camden is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the identification and apprehension of those responsible for the vandalism of 30 new parking kiosks that were installed in public areas along streets and in parking lots Friday, Sept. 5.

Beginning around 3 a.m. Sept. 8, an individual was observed on camera recordings vandalizing 25 of the machines with pink spray paint and insulation spray foam.

Cameras placed on business buildings picked up images as the vandal moved around town on foot, and at one point, riding a white bicycle, according to a news release from the Town of Camden.

Contact Camden Police Detective Sgt. Aaron Bailey with information about the destruction of public property by calling 207-236-7953 ext. 113 or by email at abailey@camdenmaine.gov.

CAMDEN — Pink spray-painted hearts on the newly installed parking meters in downtown Camden were hard to miss Monday morning, as the sun rose and law enforcement deployed to see if all the meters had been similarly vandalized.

They had, 25 out of 30. The cost of each of the kiosks is approximately $7,000. The kiosks were not insured, yet.

The kiosks were further vandalized with spray insulation foam apparently injected into the slots where credit and other payment cards could be inserted.

"A technician arrived last night to calibrate and complete set-up today [Sept. 8], but he is now working on testing each machine as the spray foam is being removed to see how many can still accept cards," said Camden's Communications and Outreach Coordinator Holly Anderson. "Tap-to-pay still works and people can Text-To-Pay, as well."

The meters, known as Flowbird kiosks, had been installed last Friday in anticipation of the new paid parking system that was to be implemented. The pay-to-park in certain downtown areas was approved in October 2024 by the Camden Select Board.

An investigation is currently underway by the Camden Police Dept., and businesses are helping out by checking any camera history that may have recorded the crime.

The new paid parking system is to be implemented by September 15, and effective through October 15, when Camden paid parking is discontinued for the winter/early spring season.

Parking spaces that have been marked with green lines are to be those for which payment is required.

The new payment system will also use the mobile app Text-To-Pay.

Camden has a dedicated webpage for its parking guidelines. It says:

"In addition to the spaces marked with green lines, the town has marked the free parking spaces that are monitored for two-hour limits in blue. Where applicable, white lines have been added to help drivers find on-street parking that is available for free and with no time limits. The map below shows where free and paid parking will be located, as well as kiosk locations. 

"Residents and property owners who register a vehicle(s) in Camden are eligible for a Resident Permit, which provides two hours of free parking daily. Permit holders will start their two-hour session at a kiosk or via text, and can park in any green space during that two hours. Details on how to register for a Resident Permit will be posted soon."

With the implementation of the new pay-to-park program, Camden anticipates netting $640,000 in revenue a year to help ease the burden on property taxpayers, the town said.