Snow/Ice on Sidewalks Archived

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Reporter

Issue ID:

4227760

Submitted To:

City of Malden

Category:

Snow/Ice on Sidewalks

Viewed:

208 times

Neighborhood:

Malden Ward 5

Reported:

on

Description

I just read the City's snow update and was astonished to note that the City is actively DIScouraging homeowners from shoveling their sidewalk by advising them to wait until the roads are entirely clear before doing so ("Regarding shoveling, . . . plows will likely be throwing [snow] onto sidewalks. To avoid having to shovel multiple times, please wait until the end of snow removal operations to begin your shoveling"). I realize that may happen occasionally and result in an angry phone call to City Hall, but I have been arranging shoveling for a large corner property for 25 years, and no such problem has ever occurred. Sidewalks are a public utility that pedestrians depend on, and that homeowners are legally required to keep clear of ice and snow, a responsibility that is very often ignored by homeowners without consequence, as the City ignores non-compliance unless it is forced to do otherwise. I urge the City to alter this advisory and to also add to its phone recording regarding the storm a reminder that homeowners are legally responsible for keeping their sidewalks free of both snow and ice at all times, and that they will be fined if they fail to do so, and then to actually go through with fining them, since that is the one and only way to get chronic offenders to comply. Although I doubt it realizes it, the City is being contemptuous of City residents who happen to be pedestrians rather than car drivers (please remember that pedestrians are taxpayers and voters, too). I urge the City to reformulate its response to this chronic problem, and to assign enforcement duties to a department with the manpower, time, and inclination to enforce the statute. Thank you. (By the way, this afternoon when I was getting off the bus after a trip to Boston, I was forced to step through a huge mound of snow left over from the past storms. Do you really think the homeowner had not had time since then to shovel that area clean?)

also asked...
Q. Re-enter the address number and street to confirm which property you are reporting.
A. City-wide problem

6 Comments

  • City of Malden (Verified Official)

  • Sam (Registered User)

  • Janet (Registered User)

  • Christopher Webb (Director of Public Health) (Verified Official)

  • Janet (Registered User)

  • Closed City of Malden (Verified Official)

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