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Hopkinton council tables proposed sidewalk snow‑removal ordinance to Nov. 17; seeks input from ball‑field maintenance
Summary
Hopkinton Town Council on Oct. 20 continued a public hearing and voted to table a proposed ordinance amendment that would require owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks and add penalties, setting the item for Nov. 17 to obtain input from the town's ball‑field maintenance official.
Hopkinton Town Council on Oct. 20 continued a public hearing and voted to table a proposed ordinance amendment that would require owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks and add a penalty for noncompliance. The council set the item for further discussion on Nov. 17 and asked staff to invite the ball‑field maintenance official to advise the council.
The ordinance under consideration would amend the town's Code of Ordinances, Chapter 17 (Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places), to add a definition of sidewalks and require removal of snow and ice with a penalty for failure to do so. Council members noted the amendment had been the subject of prior hearings on April 21 and Aug. 4, 2025.
Councilors and members of the public focused on how the rule would affect owners of large properties that include long stretches of sidewalk, and on the town's limited equipment and manpower for municipal clearing. "We have one property that owns a great deal of sidewalk," a council speaker said during the discussion, noting the potential for a substantial expense if the owner is required to clear long stretches after every storm. Council members said they wanted to avoid imposing a burdensome, recurring expense on such property owners while ensuring pedestrian safety.
Public commenters urged the council to move toward an ordinance for safety. One resident said, "It is quite a hazard in the winter," and warned of possible liability if sidewalks are not cleared. Councilors also noted concerns about elderly residents who might struggle to clear sidewalks themselves. The council discussed waiting for any state action on the matter but concluded it should proceed locally while accommodating special cases.
To inform the council's next step, members asked staff to invite Anthony Apice, who the council identified as the maintenance official for the town ball field and a member of the planning board, to the Nov. 17 meeting to explain field maintenance responsibilities and costs. The motion to table until Nov. 17 passed on a recorded voice roll call.
The council did not adopt the ordinance on Oct. 20; discussion will resume Nov. 17 with additional input and possible revisions to address the concerns raised.
