(no subject)

[mogwaikisses.livejournal.com]

Ok, snow confuses me. I have read the tagged posts -- someone complained that someone else didn't shovel / ice the sidewalk in front of their house, and they hurt themselves.

Who is responsible for that task? I rent in an 8-unit apartment building. Am I supposed to do that, since I'm on the first floor? Is there one designated resident to do that? Does the landlord bear the responsibility?

If I AM supposed to do it, where do I get salt? And what do you do, just sprinkle it all around?

I noticed a big blue barrel at the corner with sand in it. Can I use that, or is that a private barrel? It is right on the sidewalk on the street corner.

Also, what if there is a snow emergency declared, and it is street sweeping day on the odd side of the street? Does that mean you just can't park anywhere? I hear it is going to snow like mad Friday, and Friday is stupid street sweeping day.

I know I sound like a complete idiot, but seriously, there's no snow in Texas! At least, not like this...

Comments

[archangelus.livejournal.com]

From the Somerville City website: http://www.somervillema.gov/Section.cfm?org=admin&page=134

RESIDENTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SIDEWALKS

*
Residents must shovel, salt or sand their sidewalks when it snows.
*
Residents have six hours between sunrise and sunset after the snow stops to shovel sidewalks.
*
Residents are not allowed to shovel snow into the street.
*
Not complying with these provisions could result in a $25.00 fine


So while it would make sense that the owner is responsible, the city says the residents are. I have no idea who the city would fine the $25 (unless it's "all of you"). Just saying, don't rely on the landlord.

[etana.livejournal.com]

Depends on what they define as "resident" in this instance. Since the property taxes on a tenant-occupied building would be paid by the landlord, the landlord would likely receive the fine. Thus it ends up being the landlord's responsibility. Though I *know* this argument went 'round and 'round including lookings-up of section codes, etc.
I don't think it was resolved last year. So it rears its' ugly head again....like a vicious circle...

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

I don't know what the big fuss is. If you don't want to slip, shovel. If you don't like hurting others (if they slip), then shovel. If you can't shovel, talk to others in your building. Talk to your landlord.

Seems like the polite thing to do. For the most part, it's easy to clear most of the snow that falls around here. Especially if you do it as soon as it falls. Especially if you do it before hundreds of people have stomped it into ice.

It's a sad state of society when there have to be laws to force people to do the polite thing. "I'm a tenant, I refuse to shovel" is such a wimpy crybaby excuse. "I have a bad back" doesn't get you out of the easy-to-broom snowfalls.

[tfarrell.livejournal.com]

The fuss is that the owner of the building is legally required to take care of shoveling.

It's a sad state of society when landlords can't be bothered to take care of their responsibilities, and decent tenants who expect their landlords to provide the services required by law get shit about it when they complain.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

This has been gone over, at length, in depth, to exhausting degree:

http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/1068597.html

[hiddenbear.livejournal.com]

I remember the $25.00 fine from last year. Somerville 311 was under the impression that the fine increased with each successive fine for a given property. However, after they looked into it more, it turns out that it does not increase.

This makes it economically preferable for landlords to simply pay the fine than hire a snow removal company.

I plan on contacting my alderman about this, and I hope that others do as well. I'm upset with myself for letting the ball drop on this after finding out about it last year.