Borough Council Debates Snow Removal Requirements

Candace Braun

Last week Borough Council introduced an ordinance that would decrease the amount of time residents are given to shovel walkways after a snowstorm, and increase the amount of space that would need to be shoveled.

The ordinance, which hasn't been formally approved by Council, would give residents and merchants 12 daylight hours following a snowstorm to shovel their sidewalks; the current standard is 24 hours. It would also require that sidewalks be shoveled a total of three feet in width.

If the new ordinance is passed, violators would face court fines between $100 and $1,500. The Borough's statute on snow removal was brought to Council's attention following last month's snowstorm. Borough Administrator Bob Bruschi recently asked Council to reexamine the existing ordinance, which hasn't been updated since it was written in 1917, and to make changes that would more readily address the problems pedestrians often deal with in the aftermath of a snowstorm.

Following a Council discussion at the end of January, Borough Attorney Michael Herbert made adjustments to the current snow removal ordinance to comply with the requests of Council. However, Council members objected to a new paragraph stating that no person, owner, tenant, or occupant of any premises on any street shall throw or deposit snow in the street while shoveling. "There are places where it's impossible to put it anywhere else," said Councilman David Goldfarb at the February 1 meeting.

After the paragraph was stricken from the ordinance, another item that led to a lengthy discussion among Council members and residents was the width residents should have to shovel. The original ordinance had stipulated no specific width for sidewalk shoveling, and Council was split as to whether the specified width should be 18 inches, or three feet.

The revised ordinance was opposed by Council members Roger Martindell and Wendy Benchley. Mr. Martindell contended that if the Borough demanded three feet, some residents would become cynical and choose not to shovel their walkways at all.

Councilman Andrew Koontz strongly disagreed, saying that most sidewalks are four feet wide, and that there are people who need the entire width of the walkway, including pedestrians with canes or guide dogs, strollers, those in wheelchairs, and mail deliverers with mail carts.

"I just don't think 18 inches is wide enough under any circumstances," said Council President Mildred Trotman.

Phyllis Teitelbaum, a resident of Hawthorne Avenue, complained that some residents don't shovel their walkways at all, and thought the ordinance should be less specific, but with a stronger enforcement that targets those people.

Mr. Goldfarb said that the ordinance should set a standard of two feet, which would be enforced by a ticket if residents failed to comply. His suggestion wasn't supported by other Council members.

The ordinance will be formally voted on at the February 22 Council meeting, at which time residents may voice their opinions on the matter.