City reminds property owners to remove snow
Frank Speziale photo
NORWICH – As the winter enters a January lull with the recent warmer temperatures, the City of Norwich Codes Department is reminding property owners of some responsibilities and safety tips in the wake of a winter storm.
City of Norwich Ordinance requires property owners to clear both snow and ice from the entire width of all the sidewalks on their property within 12 hours following the completion of snowfall.
City Codes Enforcement Officer Amy Donnison said after the most recent snowstorm, many residents were not clearing snow and ice from the full width of the sidewalks on their properties. Most city sidewalks are four feet wide, Donnison said, and the city ordinance requires the entire width of a walk be cleared, and not just a path created by a shovel or snowblower.
"Clear width is a real problem," said Donnison. "Even though there are many people that did shovel their sidewalks––some did a great job; others, if their shovel's only 12-inches wide, that's how wide the path was."
The Codes Enforcement Office may inspect properties within 24 hours after a snowfall, and if the city receives a complaint or discovers a sidewalk is not properly cleared, the property owner will be contacted as a last attempt to encourage them to clear it.
If the property is not cleared by the next day, the city will hire a contractor to clean up the sidewalks and the property owner will be billed.
Donnison said, "This last snow storm we waited two days after the snow had stopped before we went out and hired a contractor to clear the snow from sidewalks that weren't cleared.
"The City of Norwich pays the contractor for the work that needs to be done; [the contractor] submits a bill for each parcel. We pay that bill initially because we're the ones that requested the service. Then as soon as we get that, we pay his bill. We then send that very bill to the property owner of record with a penalty."
If the property owner chooses not to pay the bill, it is added to their property tax bill, Donnison said.
City of Norwich Fire Chief Jan Papelino also reminds residents to clear snow from around house ventilation pipes or vents to ensure proper airflow in the home, and also to clear a four to six foot area around fire hydrants.
"Number one, so we can find the fire hydrant – that's the first thing, is to know that it's there – and the second thing is we have to have room around it to be able to hook our hoses up to it," said Papelino.
City residents can report an unshoveled sidewalk by calling the codes department at (607) 334-1233. A public service announcement released by the city in January reminds property owners to make arrangements for snow and ice removal before leaving town. It also encourages residents to go the extra mile by helping a neighbor who may be elderly, sick or disabled, with their snow removal.
NORWICH – As the winter enters a January lull with the recent warmer temperatures, the City of Norwich Codes Department is reminding property owners of some responsibilities and safety tips in the wake of a winter storm.
City of Norwich Ordinance requires property owners to clear both snow and ice from the entire width of all the sidewalks on their property within 12 hours following the completion of snowfall.
City Codes Enforcement Officer Amy Donnison said after the most recent snowstorm, many residents were not clearing snow and ice from the full width of the sidewalks on their properties. Most city sidewalks are four feet wide, Donnison said, and the city ordinance requires the entire width of a walk be cleared, and not just a path created by a shovel or snowblower.
"Clear width is a real problem," said Donnison. "Even though there are many people that did shovel their sidewalks––some did a great job; others, if their shovel's only 12-inches wide, that's how wide the path was."
The Codes Enforcement Office may inspect properties within 24 hours after a snowfall, and if the city receives a complaint or discovers a sidewalk is not properly cleared, the property owner will be contacted as a last attempt to encourage them to clear it.
If the property is not cleared by the next day, the city will hire a contractor to clean up the sidewalks and the property owner will be billed.
Donnison said, "This last snow storm we waited two days after the snow had stopped before we went out and hired a contractor to clear the snow from sidewalks that weren't cleared.
"The City of Norwich pays the contractor for the work that needs to be done; [the contractor] submits a bill for each parcel. We pay that bill initially because we're the ones that requested the service. Then as soon as we get that, we pay his bill. We then send that very bill to the property owner of record with a penalty."
If the property owner chooses not to pay the bill, it is added to their property tax bill, Donnison said.
City of Norwich Fire Chief Jan Papelino also reminds residents to clear snow from around house ventilation pipes or vents to ensure proper airflow in the home, and also to clear a four to six foot area around fire hydrants.
"Number one, so we can find the fire hydrant – that's the first thing, is to know that it's there – and the second thing is we have to have room around it to be able to hook our hoses up to it," said Papelino.
City residents can report an unshoveled sidewalk by calling the codes department at (607) 334-1233. A public service announcement released by the city in January reminds property owners to make arrangements for snow and ice removal before leaving town. It also encourages residents to go the extra mile by helping a neighbor who may be elderly, sick or disabled, with their snow removal.
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