Maybe it should go to TA?

Before faulting the perceived "negligent" or "lazy" homeowners, one must note that yesterday's storm was difficult to clean after. It froze over before many people were able to get home from work. We came home to walked-on ice. It is so thick, it is impossible to remove. We always remove the snow from the sidewalks (and we have a corner lot and a hydrant to clean). This time, however, we could not.

I agree with CC13. This past ice storm was fast and froze quick. It is not practical to think that most people would have had a chance to clear it in time. It's not like a slow-moving snowstorm that you can get out there and get to. I also always make a point of clearing my sidewalk, but this time I was not able to.

We need to use some common sense in what to expect.

I think the bigger problem is during snowstorms, when plow drivers clearing driveways and parking lots push the snow onto the sidewalk and leave it. This is something the police need to be aware of on their patrols and issue citations when they see it. Or at least the town should respond to complaints when they receive them about this type of violation. Last year I contacted the town a few times about blocked sidewalks from plows, and nothing was done. It's not easy to see why the plow drivers continue to take the easy route and dump the snow on the sidewalk.
No enforcement = No law.

This is a town, not a city, and many properties don't even have sidewalks. Someone tried to pass a bylaw to fine people for not shoveling sidewalks a few years ago, and it failed at town meeting.

I cleared our's this afternoon. Usually it's done after I get home from work, but on Tuesday it had frozen solid by 6 pm and couldn't be budged. Had to take time off work, but it was the first time since the storm that it was warm enough to get through it with a steel shovel, plastic ones still not up to the job yet. We don't have granite curbs in our area, so slush or snow off a plow blade goes right up to our lawn. I think most residents try to do their best, there are elderly who are limited in what they can do. If a sidewalk you walk down is not cleared, maybe help out your fellow citizen and grab a shovel. More people benefit from the sidewalks being cleared than contribute to clearing them, so have at it. The town and neighbors don't pay me a dime to break my back shoveling or reimburse me for sand and salt, so help out and lessen the burden on those who have to shovel.

CC13, I never said that the homeowners were "lazy" or "negligent", nor was I implying that. The fact is, much of what we do from day to day we do in order to avoid any negative consequences. If there was no consequence for being late at work each day, I would stay in bed longer in the morning. I don't expect people to do things that are not enforced. So no, I don't perceive anyone as "lazy" or "negligent".

I understand that the storm last week froze quickly. I understand that it is not always possible for homeowners to get out right away to shovel. But that was one storm. Last year throughout the town the majority of sidewalks were not shoveled. People in other towns are able to get to the shoveling because they do not want to get fined, I'm sure with the threat of a fine that others will be able to do so as well. There are options to help people who are physically unable to do so; elderly residents could file for a waiver or I'm sure there are high school students who could use the community service hours. I apologize that people are taking personal offense to my post, I was not faulting any specific home, it is a problem not only within this neighborhood but around the town. As far as the comment about helping a fellow citizen and grabbing a shovel... I have a full time job and my own property to shovel; I then go to my parent's house and shovel them out as well. It is not one citizen I would have to help it is many that do not shovel. And no, the city is not going to pay you to shovel any more than it is going to pay you to paint your home. It is the responsibility of the homeowner, this is recognized by the state of Massachusetts.

I originally posted about this issue because I am concerned for the safety of other Stoneham residents. Specifically, it is extremely unsafe for children walking in the street, or elderly trying to walk, use their cane, or a scooter. Not to mention our poor mailmen. All it takes is one person driving too fast, texting and driving, or otherwise not paying attention. Bottom line is it is a law and other towns manage to enforce and follow it. I understand the pain of having to shovel as well as everyone else but it is a major safety concern.

You guys must be new here! Although looking at it from different perspectives , you all have very valid points as to the condition of our sidewalks in the safety of pedestrians.
The point that is being overlooked here, is the fact that no matter what laws are on the books about the sidewalks, without a police force to enforce them, it doesn't really matter.

I often walk with my two children from the South school, up Pine Street to the playground, and over to the common.
More often than not we are walking in the street to avoid cars on the sidewalk. Often times a police cruiser will drive right by us and smile and wave.

last year there were extensive posts on this site about the cars blocking the sidewalk at the corner of Pine and Hancock in Pine in Franklin Street.
Guess what sidewalks are still blocked by cars?

Speaking of ice and snow, the intersection at Pine and Hancock, on the Hancock side had the driveway piles of ice pushed right onto the sidewalk and still there today.

So although you make perfectly valid and reasonable points here, the weak link in the system will prevent anything from being accomplished.

Thank you Franklin, well said.

Exactly AE. The main concern here is public safety! Sidewalks are neglected but keep those driveways and parking lots clean. Years ago the town would sand the sidewalks if they were icy, but that has died off too. This past storm did turn to ice but Thursday warmed up and sidewalks should have been shoveled and plowed. There is no accountability or enforcement and someone will get seriously hurt, it's a matter of time.

The Town does not have any by laws that require residents to remove snow from sidewalks.

This only addresses shoveling/plowing onto sidewalks:
Sec. 13-12. Same—Deposit of snow on certain sidewalks or streets.
The tenant, occupant and, in case there shall be no tenant or occupant, the owner of any
building or lot of land bordering any and all public ways, shall not, in the process of snow
removal on the lands owned, occupied, leased or rented by them, deposit snow or cause snow to
be deposited on the sidewalk areas or any other portion of said public ways.
http://www.stoneham-ma.gov/sites/stonehamma/files/u61/ch13.pdf

Anthony,
You make a perfectly valid point and are 100% correct that these actions go against the town laws. Unfortunately, what I have come to realize, is that without any enforcement, these laws really don't exist. Most of the businesses and private residences who plow their parking lots and driveways, just push it onto the sidewalk and into the street.

last year the town needed to clear huge mounds of snow on the sidewalk at the corner of Gerry Street and Main Street where the funeral home and gas station put all their snow.

This basically means that the town is spending tax dollars clearing the snow for businesses while other areas of town are left requiring services.

I am not sure what the chain of command is or what someone needs to do to get these laws enforced.

I just wanted to let you know that just because these laws are on the books does not mean they are automatically enforced. You are probably like me, and follow the laws as written and are a good citizen. That does not often go for many businesses and other residents in town.

A good start maybe to contact the Board of Selectmen and ask them what you can do to help get the public safety laws enforced.

Would you people please stop it? The question was about people shoveling their own sidewalks, not snow deliberately placed onto a sidewalk, and the answer was correct. Please let it go.