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Germantown board deadlocks on new sidewalk snow‑removal map after heated debate
Summary
Trustees discussed a new official map assigning sidewalk snow‑removal responsibility between the village and adjacent property owners. After resident objections about fairness and insufficient resident notice, a motion to adopt the map failed and staff were directed to return to Public Works for revisions.
The Germantown Village Board failed on a roll call vote to adopt a new official snow and ice removal map after residents and some trustees raised concerns about fairness, clarity and the financial impact on homeowners and HOAs.
Public Works Director Matt told the board the map was developed to reduce the village’s long-term equipment needs and reflect common municipal practice of assigning sidewalk maintenance to adjacent property owners. "Typically, municipalities will assign the for maintaining sidewalks to adjacent property owners," Matt said while walking trustees through a prioritized "square mile" the committee proposed keeping under village maintenance.
Several residents told the board the map treated similar neighborhoods inconsistently. Gary Conop, of Blackstone Creek, said the proposal singled out some subdivisions to bear maintenance while other nearby HOAs were treated differently. "I pay the same taxes as the people in Windsong and Sunbury Downs…and I don't think that's fair," Conop said.
Trustees debated tradeoffs between long-term budget savings and immediate community impact. Trustee Kaminski argued the board should "try it for a year" and modify the map if needed; Trustee Pieper and others urged more targeted changes and clearer public outreach. Trustee Bob Warren, who supported the map as consistent with committee criteria, warned that repeated carve-outs could negate budget savings.
On roll call the motion to adopt the map failed. Trustees cited the need for specific examples of map edits, clearer mapping, and more resident input; the board directed staff to return the proposal to the Public Works and Highway Committee for further revision and community outreach.
The motion’s failure leaves the current practice in place for the upcoming winter while staff and the committee refine the map. Matt said the village would need a clear final map well before the next winter season to give residents adequate notice about new responsibilities.
