Friday, February 15, 2013
Seeing the many sidewalks still not shoveled around town shows the need for a requirement for residents to clear snow, John MacNeill writes.
- OPINION
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Friday, February 15
Editor: Four days after the big storm and way too many Watertown property owners still haven't shoveled their sidewalks. Roads are only partially plowed, leaving no room for pedestrians who're forced to walk in the street. This problem comes up year after year but nothing is done about it. Snow and ice covered sidewalks are a hazard for emergency personnel, postal workers, commuters who need to reach their bus stops, and children walking to school. Cunniff School, for example, has no bus service and not everyone has an extra car to drive. Young kids shouldn't have to risk injury just to get to school. In 2010 the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court overturned 125 years of legal precedent and ruled that all Massachusetts property …
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The bylaw would require all residential properties to clear snow from their sidewalks after a snowstorm; details must still be worked out.
The Town Council will consider making a bylaw requiring residents to remove snow from the sidewalk in front of their homes after the Public Works subcommittee approved the requirement by a 2-1 vote during a contentious meeting Tuesday night. The bylaw, which right now has no deadline to shovel or penalty, will must be approved by the Town Council before it goes into effect. Snow shoveling ordinances have been considered at least four times, and each time it was voted down before going to the Town Council. This year, the Commission on Disabilities requested a bylaw be passed to make it easier for the disabled, elderly and others can walk on sidewalks after a snow storm. Town Council Vice President Steve Corbett brought forward a proposal, …
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Town of Watertown Town Hall
149 Main St, Watertown, MA
/articles/subcommittee-sends-residential-snow-shoveling-bylaw-to-town-council-for-consideration
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Monday, November 28, 2011
The Town Council subcommittee will discuss the rules for clearing sidewalk at the request of the Commission on Disabilities.
Tuesday night, the Town Council's Public Works Committee will discuss a proposal requiring residents to shovel snow from the sidewalk in front of their homes. The Commission on Disabilities recommended that the town create an ordinance regarding snow removal. The town has one for private property in the business districts, but nothing for residential areas. "The Watertown Commission on Disability is recommending an additional ordinance be enacted to ensure that snow is removed and cleared away from residential sidewalks by private persons, so the disabled, elderly, children, and other citizens can safely travel throughout the city," the commission wrote in a letter to the Public Works Committee. Town Councilor Susan Falkoff, who chairs the…
42.36752
-71.18773
Town of Watertown Town Hall
149 Main St, Watertown, MA
/articles/snow-shoveling-ordinance-on-public-works-committee-agenda
1422333
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Carolyn A. Gritter
2:53 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
I suppose Mr. DiMascio is prepared for a substantial increase in property taxes to pay for the legends of shovelers that would be needed to clear walkways and for the purchase of snow removal equipment such as snow blowers and SnoCats. Forcing pedestrians to put themselves at risk by walking in the street because of uncleared sidewalks is unacceptable. Since Mr. DiMascio does not want to work for… more ›