The proposed laws would clearly make it illegal to a) shovel snow into the street or alleyways; and b) give the municipality the power to issue citations or tickets for such violations. The initial penalty for a resident would be $10, with a possible increase to $100 if the fine goes unpaid.
Read the text of the proposed changes here.
The sole purpose in drafting these laws is to improve quality of life in Norristown. Snow removal is a key issue when it comes to CLEAN and SAFE streets during the winter. And we need to send a strong message that everyone must work together to keep our streets clean and safe during a snowstorm.
The municipality has a responsibility to plow streets and make them clear and safe for travel during and immediately after a snow event.
But that can only happen in coordination with residents, who, when needed, move their cars, and in shoveling their cars out do not shovel snow into the street or place chairs, garbage cans, and other objects into the street to save spots.
The reality is that both these actions impede Public Works' ability to do their job. And I don't want to make any excuses for Public Works. Those guys work hard, and I want them to work even harder and smarter.
And these changes are one way for them to do that.
There will need to be greater coordination with the community to make this work. We can make it work if we all work together.
I would note, I have been talking about these changes as part of a comprehensive plan to improve quality of life in Norristown during a snow event.
I launched this blog with an article on our proposed snow plan, which has been made available to the public.
And I have written about this issue in my monthly column in the Times Herald newspaper as well.
In these posts, from last winter, I called for the following:
- A copy of our draft snow plan should be linked to on the holding page for the website, until the new site is launched.
- Norristown should use the web, radio and newspaper to inform residents of rules when it snows.
- Council should publicize (and if needed revise) all relevant ordinances about snow to give clear guidance on suspending parking rules, prohibiting shoveling snow into the street, and most importantly, banning the placing of items in the street to hold parking spots. We have these laws now, but they are not enforced.
- Council, staff and residents must continue to work together to ensure the seamless and consistent pattern of salt-and-plow, strict enforcement of rules after suspended period ends, and zero tolerance for behavior that impedes clearing streets.
I see these proposed changes as a culmination of those initial efforts. But we must do the hard work to inform and partner with residents and businesses to make our streets clean and safe during a snow event.
This is not about punishment and bureaucracy. It's about working together.
Thank you and I look forward to your feedback.
