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Council tables enforcement of sidewalk snow ordinance, approves 2025–26 snow-and-ice contract including sidewalk clearing
Summary
After a lengthy debate over whether to reinstate a 1999 ordinance placing snow‑removal responsibility on property owners, Harpers Ferry council voted to table the enforcement decision pending legal guidance and separately awarded the town's 2025–26 snow-and-ice removal contract including sidewalk clearing to Cornerstone & Landscaping.
Harpers Ferry Town Council on Oct. 13 held an extended discussion about whether to reinstate and enforce an ordinance requiring property owners to clear sidewalks after snow and then voted to postpone that policy decision while approving the town's snow-and-ice removal contract for the upcoming season.
Council reviewed Article 909.04, which states property owners must remove snow from sidewalks within four hours after snowfall ends (with a sunrise exception for overnight or Sunday storms). Jesse introduced the item and said the ordinance was reinstated in 1999 but had not been enforced since 2017 when the town began clearing sidewalks. Legal counsel and staff advised keeping the ordinance on the books could shift liability to property owners; other council members noted Harpers Ferry's unique sidewalk geography and enforcement challenges. After debate, the council moved to table the enforcement/rescind decision pending specific legal guidance from the town attorney (Ken Sayer). The tabling motion passed 6-0.
Separately, council discussed the town's snow-and-ice removal contract for the 2025–26 season. Only one bid was received and staff recommended awarding the contract to Cornerstone & Landscaping for sidewalk and street clearing, including Washington, High and Potomac streets. Council members raised questions about how the contractor would track salt use (per-bag and per-ton pricing), environmental trade-offs of different de-icing products, and past operational experience; staff said the vendor has been the only responsive bidder in recent seasons and the current budget anticipates these costs. The council moved to award the contract and include sidewalk service; the motion passed 6-0.
Why it matters: The two actions together represent the council's approach to winter operations: deferring a policy change about private property responsibilities while preserving sidewalk clearing service for downtown thoroughfares this winter. Staff said the town will continue to monitor costs and licensing and may return with clarifications or contract amendments.
Council actions recorded
- Motion: Table action on enforcing or rescinding Article 909.04 (sidewalk snow removal ordinance) pending guidance from town attorney Ken Sayer. Outcome: tabled 6-0. - Motion: Award snow-and-ice removal contract for 2025–26 season to Cornerstone & Landscaping to include sidewalk clearing on Washington, High and Potomac streets. Outcome: approved 6-0.
Implementation notes: The contract includes hourly rates for truck use, sidewalk labor, chemical per bag/per ton and cleanup; staff will pursue further specifics on chemical bag sizes, tonnage tracking, and environmental treatment to refine future contracts.
