Norwalk declares snow emergency

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6 responses to “Norwalk declares snow emergency”

1. Mike Mushak

   January 21, 2014

   As a reminder, all property owners are responsible for clearing their sidewalks in front of their properties of ice and snow, regardless of the actual sidewalk ownership, according to Ordinance 95-10. They also assume the liability for any injuries from failure to do so. The clearing must be done within 6 hours of daylight following the end of the snow event. Sand or salt must be used on ice if clearing is not possible. A fine of $250/day shall be imposed fro violations. If they neglect to clear it, the city may direct its own crew to do it and then bill the property owner.
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   I am only reporting the ordinance. Please don’t shoot the messenger! Many property owners and condo associations in our neighborhood do not clear their sidewalks, and lots of folks including kids walking to the school bus, mothers with strollers (we have a lot of low income folks who walk to the bus and train nearby as they don’t have cars), elderly, and even those with physical challenges, which we have a lot of in our senior center, have to risk their lives on snowy and icy sidewalks or walk into the busy and dangerous roads (Flax Hill, Fairfield, Taylor, Cedar, etc.)
   It’s crazy, and I would love to walk Dave McCarthy and Hal Alvord around our neighborhood later this week to show them, as they are responsible for enforcing this ordinance. I’ll be sending them an invitation.

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2. spanner

   January 21, 2014

   Thank you Mike,please bear in mind Norwalk is having a tough time on this storm unlike the picture that was painted last storm.

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3. Debora

   January 21, 2014

   I don’t mind clearing my sidewalk of fallen snow. I do mind having to shovel the same sidewalk repeatedly as a result of being plowed under by the city’s plows.

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4. JustAparent

   January 21, 2014

   Thank you Mike for reminding home owners of their responsibility. Sometimes we tend to forget. On a side note, it is not only ”low income folks” that don’t have vehicles…your identification was not necessary. There are a lot of different people that walk, take the bus and don’t have cars.

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5. Mike Mushak

   January 22, 2014

   Point well taken, justaparent. I guess I thought of saying that in case someone questioned mothers with strollers that I mentioned, since we live in a city that is half leafy suburbs, with a whole different mindset about cars and walking. I am sure those folks would wonder why anyone would walk their stroller when everything they do is by car! But you are right, choosing to walk is independent of income or car ownership. It’s just that for many folks in our area, they really don’t have a choice, and sidewalk safety is crucial to their daily mobility.

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6. Debora

   January 22, 2014

   Sidewalk safety isn’t just a function of snow removal. Sidewalks become impassable when people leave there garbage cans on the walks instead of on the curb edge.

   When DPW needs a whole week (or a whole year) to pick up yard waste or Christmas trees, those Sidewalks are also unsafe, forcing people to walk in the street, often at dusk when they cannot be seen very well by cars.

   And failure to enforce against people who park on sidewalks also endangers pedestrians by forcing them into the streets. If we are going to enforce for safety reasons, let’s not pick and choose.

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