Town Walks Slippery Slope Of Sidewalk Snow Removal

Residents and merchants who fail to remove snow, ice, or sleet from sidewalks adjoining their property are liable for a $1 fine, a fine that has not changed for the past 106 years.

Stonington continued to walk the slippery slope of its snow and ice removal ordinance at last night's meeting.

A proposal for the revised ordinance to the one adopted in 1904 would change the fine to $75, in the hopes the higher fine would compel residents and merchants to clear their sidewalks.

With snow season upon the town, concerns about the revised ordinance were raised.

"My biggest concern of what's still in the ordinance is if you can't get compliance, if you have the order to clear, that's going to be problematic," Joe Bragaw, Director of Public Works said. "We have 31 miles of sidewalk in town it's hard to guarantee that you can get 100 percent compliance."

Bragaw said the is dedicated to first clearing town sidewalks and then working with the board of education and bus drivers to find trouble spots. But without hiring outside contractors or paying double time, it would be hard to clear all sidewalks in the course of a day.

One of the key concerns is what happens if residents clear their sidewalks and then the town or state plows go by and push the snow back onto the sidewalks.

"I might be liable for the snow that God puts there, but I'm not liable for the snow that the town or the state puts on my sidewalk" Jim Spellman, former first selectmen said.

Spellman said he quickly clears his own sidewalks of snow, but is concerned about a transfer of liability.

Police Chief J. Darren Stewart said the ideal snow ordinance is a little illusive, but that the town's current ordinance is not working.

"The students are having issues, the school department is having issues…so something has to be done," Stewart said.

The board of selectmen approved putting the snow ordinance on next meeting's agenda as an action item, where the board will vote whether or not to adopt the revised ordinance. The board of selectmen meets on Dec. 22 at 7:00 p.m.

The current and proposed revised snow and ice removal ordinances are available at the town's website.

The board of selectmen also approved Mel Olsson for the police commission.