Shoveling sidewalks

[mem-winterhill.livejournal.com]

So some drama erupted about Somerville shoveling today on the intertubz.

What do you guys think?

https://twitter.com/universalhub/status/432168697395154944

Comments

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

If the city intends to stay on the intended model of property owners are responsible and they get fines if they don't do it, then they have to change the enforcement model.

Right now Inspectional Services are in charge of sidewalk complaints. They have TWO inspectors, who are also in charge of every other thing in the City that has to be inspected. On the other hand, Traffic and Parking has how many PCOs (Parking Control Officers) who are out there ANYWAY, who could be given the ability to write two different kinds of tickets, one for parking, and one for sidewalks. This would require additional training for the PCOs, and might make them cover a little less territory in a beat, so they might need a few more, but they would still be cheaper and easier to do than new Inspectors.

Last time a friend of mine suggested this to the City, though, she got back "Oh, but we can't do that, because I.S. does sidewalks." it's like they're stuck in that mode and can't consider changing it.

[dougo.livejournal.com]

This model is doomed to failure if the fines are less than the cost of hiring someone to shovel.

I would rather the punishment be that the city hires someone to shovel and the bill for the shoveling goes to the property owner.

[jadelennox]

+1

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Makes sense to me. It's like if someone's parked blocking a fire hydrant, the city'll call a tow truck to remove the vehicle, and the owner has to pay for the tow.

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

Before they start handing out fines wholesale, they'd better define what constitutes "shoveled". And it *doesn't* consist of "a path X inches wide" -- because sidewalks throughout the city are different widths. Nor does it consist of "down to the pavement" because sometimes weather conditions make that impossible. If I'm going to have a chance of getting a fine, I want to know how to avoid it.

We do our best to shovel and salt (my god the money i've spent on salt/snowmelt this year alone...), but my house has a very poor drainage situation due to lot size and house placement, and there WILL be an ice slick at one point on the sidewalk, no matter how much I try to stop it. I'd have to have a jackhammer to keep that section of the sidewalk completely clear of ice. Every winter, I'm constantly terrified that someone will have an accident walking by my house and sue me for money I don't have.

Clearly I'm not one of the scofflaws that just never bothers to shovel. Just as clearly, if the city wanted to, they could fine me pretty much every snowstorm. Because of my situation, I'm glad that the enforcement is so lax, but the unshoveled sidewalks make it really hard to get around in winter. I pretty much stop walking anywhere and go out only when I absolutely have to, or there's a place I know will allow me to park. It's not healthy, but I'm also not nursing various assorted sprains and bruises from taking a nosedive on icy walks. Me, I'm just dreaming of the day when I can go somewhere that doesn't have so much snow in winter. :\

[xuth.livejournal.com]

The city already has defined that in the city ordinances (https://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=11580). They're short. You should read them. Here's the paragraphs on snow removal (https://library.municode.com/HTML/11580/level3/PTIICOOR_CH12STSIOTPUPL_ARTIINGE.html#PTIICOOR_CH12STSIOTPUPL_ARTIINGE_S12-8SNICSI).

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

If the city does in fact own the sidewalks, is it their responsibility to correct any drainage issues?

[gruene.livejournal.com]

This.

Impeding the roads during a snow emergency: $100.00
Impeding the sidewalks for days after the snow emergency is over: $25.00 (rarely enforced)

You can see where the city's priorities are.