Citizens Propose Shoveling Fine

When the Annual Spring Town Meeting convenes next week, members will need to decide if failing to shovel your sidewalk should result in a fine. 

At the Town Manager's Public Hearing on Warrant Articles, Article 2 was brought up, which says owners should be held responsible for clearing and treating snow and ice from residential sidewalks.

"The issue came out of the sidewalk conditions that turned walking to school a nightmare this past winter," said DeLellis. "Even though parents started driving their children to school it was hard to navigate the snow piles, ice and the limited pedestrian space. It was a concern for seniors who opted to stay in rather than risk a fall," DeLellis explained.

The article calls for civil penalties to be imposed on each day of the violation when the resident fails to remove snow within 24 hours of a storm. The resident will be fined $25 for each offense and must clear the sidewalk a width of 42 inches. They must use sand or an ice melt treatment to keep the area safe for walking.

During this past winter, Fire Chief John Nash urged residents to , saying that after every storm he needed to send out firefighters to try and dig out the hydrants.

It wasn't just the hydrants that the town was concerned about, but the overall lack of shoveling. Acting Town Manager, Mary Ellen Lannon and the spoke numerous times over the winter about the lack of shoveling.

“The has spent the time to have the sidewalks open, but it’s defeating the purpose if residents don’t do the same,” said Selectman Roger Berman this past winter.

Part of the concern, Berman said at the time, was the safety problems it creates for the residents who are trying to walk around the town.

“It’s bad for the disabled and elderly, but it’s also potentially disastrous for the children,” Berman said. “People have to inch out of their driveways because they can’t see because of the snow banks. And if children have to walk on the street because a sidewalk isn’t shoveled out, that car might not see them.”

Article 3 proposes to name the Town Common in honor of Sherman W. "Whip" Saltmarsh, Jr. who served the town for many years as a state representative and a selectman.  

In Article 17, the Wright-Locke Farm Conservancy, Inc. asks that a portion of the land at 78 Ridge Street be leased to them for a period not less than 50 years with renewable interest.

"Wright-Locke Farm is the only farm left in Winchester," said Jim Whitehead the Conservancy's president. "This twenty acre site has an historic and cultural significance some of which we should preserve. The barn dates to 1827 and still has some original tools and equipment."

Whitehead continued, "We now have farmer, Adrienne Altstatt living there and cultivating the fields. The produce will be offered to local farmers' markets and may find their way onto the tables of town restaurants."

A developer has plans to put approximately 42 single unit dwellings on the land set aside for housing. "The Conservancy would like to keep the land sloping up to the hill on the site for its view of the fields," added Whitehead.

"We also envision it used for agricultural education. But to keep the land and it's buildings maintained we need commitment from the town. There are donors out there who want to know that their support will be worthwhile," he stated.

Town Meeting will be held in the Auditorium. It will begin at 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 25.

On May 5, a Special Town Meeting will discuss a permanent easement for handicap access at the town's MBTA bus station.