Should Middletown Fine Residents Who Do Not Clear Walkways?
Do you think Middletown should enforce the ordinance that requires property owners to clear the walkway?
Four days after the snowfall, many Middletown walkways are still impassable. Although it is the responsibility of the property owner to clear the walkway that abuts their property, residents say the law has been largely ignored by residents.
According Middletown Town Ordinance General Regulations 94.01:
Whenever a sidewalk or portion thereof shall become encumbered with snow, ice, mud, obstruction or debris, it shall be the duty of the owner, occupant or person in charge of the property abutting upon such sidewalk to remove the same during daylight or before 9:00 a.m. after the falling of snow during darkness. In complying with the foregoing requirements, no person shall use any pick, axe or other sharp tool or implement which could cause damage to the sidewalk.
Do you think Middletown should start fining residents who are out of compliance? Here is what a few people had to say on the Middletown Patch Facebook page.
Ben Dinsmore Definitely, it's hard enough to walk around, get to work, whatever without having to be on the narrow roadways. It's not that hard, I did my house. There are ppl that you can pay that wander neighborhoods digging out cars and shoveling sidewalks. Dont let laziness get one of your fellow citizens hurt or killed.Kim McNicol Yes! Dig out your mailbox, dig out your hydrant and clear your sidewalks!!! This is not a new concept.
Lisaandbrian Guarino Only if the town is held accountable for there actions.. i would like a rebate on my taxes for there lack of effort or there extremely poor planning... i am still snowed in. So bring it on Middletown. Bring it on. Ill make way more money in fines than you. Completely stupid.
What do you think? Should residents be fined? Tell us in the comments!
frank macedo
12:59 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
going thru the same crap in Newport and called the useless city manager and get no response and I wonder why the Newport police are useless, can't blame them they are following the useless leaders
Lori
7:37 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Really? Poor plowing, storm drainage grates under 6 feet of snow & ice, West Main sidewalks under 4 or more feet of ice and snow and we get called in to work early. Who is responsible for plowing in front of library or Potters baseball field? How about in front of the Navy housing complexes? We can't see out of our street turn onto West or East Main and you want us to have a ?serious? discussion about fines for some who have the misfortune to live on West Main? Really? Kinda like those bogus tolls just because we live on this island!!!!
fred
7:52 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
When you see mothers with their children walking on the highway you know this is a serious problem hopefully it doesn take a death before we see a change. The worst area is from stop and shop to oxbow and that's where you have poor mothers who have no choice but to walk. Hopefully the town manager will have a little compassion for these mothers and their children and make their safety a priority. God doesn't care how rich or poor you are just how big your heart is. Peace
Daft
7:54 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
It has always been the law to clean your sidewalks, shovel out fire hydrants and to clear access to your mailbox. We know that there isn't space left to place the snow that you remove. Not a valid reason to not clear the sidewalk. Businesses are as guilty as home owners are. Other towns in RI weren't thrilled about addressing this law but they did and issued warnings to businesses and homeowners which caused a lot of "communication" in those towns. Eventually, the dangers of not clearing those walkways won as the warnings became fines. If it's the law, enforce it! Not an easy task but distribute flyers with the law stated on it and the consequences. For community service, students could distribute these flyers. It takes time and effort to "re-educate" the public but eventually, it will take less time to enforce these laws. I saw a lady try to get to the RIPTA bus bench - impossible! Pitch black out, forced to walk in the street and a huge mound of snow blocking the pick up area. Perhaps getting a storm drain cleared is more important than someone waiting for public transportation but for that person who depends on public transportation, to get to work, a safe place to wait is on the top of their list. Stop debating about what to do about the law and simply enforce it? It isn't unreasonable! If you can't shovel or plow or if you cannot afford to pay someone to do it, at least we should provide a list of places to call, of those who can help them.
Jay Down South in Dixie
10:59 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
This is an opportunity for Boy Scouts to do some good deeds (and anyone else who cares about their less blessed neighbors) by shoveling out the walks, hydrants and mailboxes and of the elderly and disabled. Come on, Middletown! Step up!
Michael E. Whitty
4:09 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Is this a serious question? The reason that I say that is that the town of Middletown is the biggest offender. We do not do sidewalks. For instance, start at J F Kennedy School on the West Main Road and continue to Lake Erie on Coddington Highway. Nothing is done. Also, in front of Forest Avenue School or even in front of our Town Hall. It is not right, but we think it is fine to take hundreds of dollars from those Salve kids to help finance our town.