Also, and perhaps most significant, in the past the fines did not always accomplish the goal of getting the sidewalk cleared, leaving the situation still dangerous for children walking to school and for other pedestrians. (Perhaps some property owners found it more convenient to pay the fine than to get the work done. Maybe they didn't pay the fine.) But under the new ordinance, the City may hire someone to remove the snow and bill the property owner for the job, then place a lien on the property if the bill is not paid.
Below is the actual text of the ordinance. It's another step toward safer walking conditions--in other words, Complete Streets--in Middletown!
It's great to have a better policy, but what is the plan for informing residents and business owners?
ReplyDeleteIt will also help if the city snow plows stop piling the snow on the sidewalks on our city's cul-de-sac's
ReplyDeleteOne of the only problems I have seen are the sidewalk snow plowers who remove the snow from the sidewalk but forget that human beings don't walk around and around, circling the block - they actually want to cross the street. But there is no way to get to the street, because an access route to the street wasn't made. This happens on the corner of Washington and Broad (St Sebastian's corner), corner of Broad and College (Christian Scientist church corner), etc.
ReplyDelete