A new breed of parking meter has been installed in 30 locations Downtown. Not only are the new fee-collectors solar-powered which will eliminate the need to replace and eventually dispose of batteries, the “smart meters” also accept any denomination of American coin including pennies. As an added convenience, Visa and MasterCard may also be used to pay for short-term on-street parking. The new meters are part of a 90-day pilot program being conducted to determine how well the meters will function in various locations and whether motorists take advantage of the credit or debit card option. Look for 20 more of the new meters to be installed in the next two weeks.