Ready for a lot of snow?
No, this is not a forecast, but there’s a revised law on the books that addresses the shoveling of sidewalks that Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur believes should make …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
|
Ready for a lot of snow?
No, this is not a forecast, but there’s a revised law on the books that addresses the shoveling of sidewalks that Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur believes should make life easier, especially for students walking to and from school after a major snowstorm.
Under the revisions, the director of public works will create a list of priority sidewalks, which Ladouceur imagines will be predominantly in the vicinity of schools. These walks will become the target for clearing.
The revisions, drafted by a committee Ladouceur formed, gained council approval on Dec. 21 – fittingly the first day of winter – and were signed by the mayor this week.
Last winter’s succession of snow storms left few places to put the white stuff, which piled up on sidewalks and forced pedestrians to walk on what were already confined streets. When police turned to the law, distributing notices that people are to clear walks followed by several citations, there was an outcry from residents. Some were physically incapable or didn’t have the resources to handle shoveling the walks in front of their houses. Others complained they had cleared a path, only to have city plows fill it up when widening roads.
Even the city had difficulty meeting requirements of the law. The priority was opening the streets, with even some walks in front of municipal buildings and city property left for another day.
Ladouceur thought there could be a better way. Before the snow was gone and the problem melted from people’s attention, he pulled together a committee of representatives from different sectors of the community. Police, fire, public works and schools were represented, but so also were the city’s Department of Human Services, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation and the business community.
Ladouceur is pleased with the outcome. He said committee members recognized problems and worked on solutions to overcome them. He said they stayed focused on the issues.
“It becomes difficult and complicated when you want to introduce politics,” he said. That didn’t happen.
One of Ladouceur’s pet peeves was the requirement that businesses clear sidewalks when parking lots, which were cleared, ran parallel to the walks. The walks became places for the city and the business to stockpile snow while the parking lot became the safe place to walk.
“They’ve got a parking lot cleared and they have to shovel the sidewalk. That’s stupid,” Ladouceur said last week.
For the first time the revised law enables the director of the department of public works to establish a list of priority walks. Ladouceur said these walks would be near schools and in areas where there is pedestrian traffic.
Major revisions to the law include:
l Those property owners with a priority sidewalk in front of their property have 72 hours in which to clear snow and ice. It had previously been 24 hours.
l The new law carries a warning for the first offense followed by fines of $100 and $175 for the second and third offenses. A fourth offense would require an appearance in municipal court and carry a $250 fine. Previously, the fine was $100 for the first offense with no provision for a warning.
l The law allows the city to clear a priority walk if the landowner is in violation and charge that cost to the owner.
l The law provides for hardship cases that exempts those property owners who qualify because of disability or age from the shoveling. A list of those with exemptions would be provided to police so that they would not be tagged for violation. The city would also have the authority to clear those walks. Ladouceur said Director of Human Services Patti St. Amant was critical in drafting this provision of the law and that her office would be responsible for establishing exemptions.
Ladouceur also singled out George Shuster, the public member of the committee, for his work. An attorney, Shuster provided advice on legal aspects of the law.
In the weeks ahead, and assuming this winter brings snow, Ladouceur said the intent is to monitor the law and “see how it is working.” He also aims to push for city acquisition of the proper equipment to clear walks. The department of public works has two machines designed for the task, but they are old and were out of service most of last winter.
“The DPW needs those machines to clear sidewalks. You can’t get the job done without the tools,” he said.
He said he would push to buy the machines, which he estimated would cost in the range of $150,000 each.
6 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
davebarry109
Are the sidewalks private property of the owners....or does the city own them. If private property, how can the city mandate that you clear them? If public property, the city cannot make you work for them. That is slavery, outlawed in every state.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016 Report this
Justanidiot
I agree dave. Plus it is fun watching the kids slip and slide in the street with their overloaded backpack, bad shoes, and the like. I don't want to see the guvmint take that away from us.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Report this
patientman
This doesn't solve the problem for the conscientious property owner that shovels the sidewalk but the city comes by and plows to widen the street. Now there is wet heavy snow on the sidewalk. Do you fine that homeowner? Nice that they have revisited an idiotic law, but in the end snow is a difficult problem when we get a lot of it. Fining for not shoveling sidewalks should only begin when all sidewalks that need to be cleared by the city are cleared first.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Report this
davebarry109
Justanidiot......why are other peoples kids my problem? I took care of mine. Besides, you miss the legal point. Either the sidewalks are public or private property. Either way, I don't believe the city can make a person shovel a sidewalk that a) belongs to the citizen, or b) belongs to the city. This is all about the city not being able to meet its responsibilities. Also, the solution devised is a false security one. The defined sidewalks will inevitably run into the undefined sidewalks a little further from the school necessitating those kids you care so much about walking in the street further from the school.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Report this
stinkeone
i think they missed on this what about the hardship of selling these homes who in their right mind would purchase a home with mandatory shoveling i find it irresponsible passing an ordinance such as this the solution is to have the city take responsibility for this we pay enough in taxes for them to do it they have raised our taxes to the breaking point and now the want to break our backs shoveling as mentioned houses on these routes are taking a hit on their value a shame that they think it's as simple as passing a bad ordinance
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Report this
Justanidiot
Speed limits are really only a suggestion, my car can go 120 mph, why should the government tell me what I can drive.
Same with grazing land out west, why should a rancher have to pay to let his cows keep the ecology in check.
The Roger Williams National monument is calling for you to take over dave.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Report this