Seymour committee sets April 8 hearing on sidewalks and snow/ice rules after presentation on hardship assistance

The ordinance committee reviewed a draft post-storm assessment and proposed compliance timeframes for snow-and-ice removal at its March 24 meeting and set a public hearing for Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Officer John McKenzie told the committee he drafted a post-storm assessment and compliance timetable that would let a group including the first select person, the chief of police, the director of public works and the director of land use and code compliance determine whether the standard 24-hour minimum for snow removal should be extended after severe storms. McKenzie also presented a hardship assistance policy that would allow elderly, disabled, medically vulnerable or low-income residents to apply for temporary assistance following a storm, and said authorized volunteer outreach groups such as the Snow Brigade might help with that assistance.

McKenzie and land-use staff also described a draft amendment to consider blight liens as part of building-permit approvals in certain cases; committee members asked that the matter be added to next month’s agenda so town council can determine where the language should be inserted and to review the case-by-case mechanics.

A motion was made and seconded to set an ordinance committee public hearing for the sidewalks/snow-and-ice removal ordinance for Tuesday, April 8, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the Norman Drummer Room; the chair called the vote and the motion carried.

Next steps: Committee requested that the full ordinance be prepared with redlines showing the proposed edits and distributed before the public hearing so members and the public can review.