Let's start with sidewalks first. A perpetually icy and snowy walk can be found at Bishop & State St. Just about a notorious site for hazardous going.Piling it up against those buildings only to watch it melt in dangerous doses, well, it means i need to be there with cam as flopping floundering flipping pedestrians whose only desire was to get to the laundry or the mobil station.
The "meant to be a housing authority property" across the street ( on state st) is another neglectful culprit.

I agree that sidewalks need to be shoveled. But, as the snow melts, the water needs to runoff somewhere. If the storm drains are clogged, the water backs up, refreezes and creates icy pile ups on sidewalks and really awful walking conditions.

Matt Smith
Ward 9 Alderman

Hello Alderman. I agree Mr.Smith. Storm drains being uncleared does cause a mess, or more of a mess. I suppose in some locations they would cause a sidewalk issue, but not over here, or anywhere near here, i hope it's not anyplace, but maybe that happens where you live. In that case my sympathies.
Icy sidewalks as far as i can see , are from not clearing the sidewalk properly, that's mostly the top part of the sidewalk, either against a building or piles remaining on the walk, that melts a bit and refreezes ,and melts a bit and refreezes.
Drains cause a street mess, which is bad enough, esp. at bus stops.
I saw a neighbor and child walking by once ,they were frolicking and kicking the snow onto a cleared walk, that can cause an icy spot also, and it did, but not on the scale of the "was a crooked one foot path,made by a crooked developer" etc.
I would watch the service do the property across the street here. They would do it at 5 am, but with a small pick-up with a plow. The corner never got cut out, and maybe once or twice they did it but the City plows always returned. By that time the Co. was long gone. As i watched elderly / warm climed students
and a few other typsa , i swore i would just go out and do it, no praises or accolades were wanted or needed. But the Co became furious !?
And the kind old guy over there, he clears the walk pretty promptly, but never the corner , providing access to pedestrians etc. - so i did his - then find out he owns 3-4 divied up mansions. He shrugged and walked away when i mentioned it yesterday.
But i give him credit and blessings to do that himself, especially in the face of outright violent / competitive / late / expensive / contractors ,who dump snow in the street, throw garbage onto your front lawns, pay to play with our Mayor.
And what about answering the question , " officially, whose responsibilty is it for city owned storm drains in the street "?, just a question.

Gents,

A month or two ago I left a polite note for my neighbors across the street asking for them to be more conscientious of raking leaves (for exactly the reason you describe). They made a half hearted effort to rake some leaves and weak later, in the middle of a monsoon, I found myself out with a coal shovel clearing both of our grates (my basement still flooded a bit because I'm at a low spot in the street.) I was too polite because the answer to your question is, its not great civic karma, its a legal requirement....

New Haven Code Of Ordinances
ARTICLE II. NUISANCES, OBSTRUCTIONS AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
Sec. 27-33. Ice, snow, sleet--Duty of abutting property owner to clean gutters and catch basin tops.
Every person having the care of any property abutting a paved gutter and catch basin top shall keep them free from snow, ice, sleet and any other substance so as to permit the free passage of water through them. Failure to comply with this section shall result in an infraction and a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00), or an amount up to the maximum allowed under state statute. Each day that the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

Pretty much.....I went out and cleared the drain on the previous storm. Found the one in front okay ( under mounds of snow,but breathing)
But when i went to do my neighbors, i had a hard time finding it, i knew it was almost directly across from this one.Eventually ,after much digging, And under a frozen pile of leaves, i found it. Leaves were acting like concrete. Property owning Bo.. across the street only rakes the leafs into the street after the sweeper goes by

JOJO,

Show Bo this...

CODE OF ORDINANCES
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT
Chapter 30¾ WASTE DISPOSAL*
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL

Sec. 30¾-14(b)(7) No person or property owner shall rake, place, blow or cause leaves to be raked, placed or blown into any street within the city from private lands, property or sidewalk.

Sec. 30¾-14(e) Penalties. Every person who violates any provision of this section, including regulations established hereunder, shall be fined up to the maximum amount authorized by state statutes or this Code for every such violation. Each day that such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

Robn loves throwing the law book at folks. I think in the end most people probably would not have the reaction "Oh my, I was not aware that this was against the law!" if someone was to print out a city ordinance. I think most people (or more people than you seem to think) know that raking leaves, throwing snow, etc. into the street is probably not allowed, they just choose to ignore it because they figure it won't be enforced (because it isn't in a strict or systematic way).

I like think of it more as showing the law book to folks... not throwing it at them.

In any event, ingorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it, and common law is no great substitute for common sense. For Pete's sake peoples,keeping drains from flooding in front of your house is in your own self interest...water held back at storm drains forces it way through the soil and into your basements...

I wonder if that law is current. A while back the City issued a statement ( press release) That a homeowner can drag out the leaves that are sitting on the City owned tree belt, or tree line as some call it.Those trees are City owned and planted.
Some feel the City hires incompetents and yes men to ignore their duties as to leaf pick-up. That eventually the leaves will blow away or wind up in a storm drain or both.
Many homeowners and property owners have NOT ONE tree on abode
-some have none and want none in front of residence
But wind up with mega piles of leaves.

JOSEPH,

Do the landowners without trees enjoy breathing the oxygen that nearby trees give off? Do they enjoy shade and cooling on hot summer days or the reduction of storm wind loads on their houses.? Just asking'

BTW, unless its a mistake by the Municipal Code Corporation which posts our laws online, the law was up to date from June 7, 2010.
(Supplement No. 3)

Trees......ah yes, cooling in the summer, beautiful foliage in the fall, and a home for birds, bees and
squirrels. After that, trees are nothing more than a nuisance, dropping leaves that clog storm drains,
harboring pests such as centipedes and carpenter ants, they constantly need to be trimmed, their roots clog sewers and cesspools, in the summer spiders drop from the branches. Oh they are lovely alright.
The best thing a tree is used for is firewood or paper. I think most trees should be cut down and
used for mulch!

Closing this for now guys. We should do an adopt a storm drain program next year!