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Resident urges Brookside Avenue snow-parking exemption; council cites liability and operational limits
Summary
A Brookside Avenue resident asked the council to exempt the east side of his street from snow-parking restrictions after four cars were ticketed; the mayor cited liability and plow operations while council members discussed alternatives such as municipal-lot use or temporary shuttles.
Edward Gingfiao of 18 Brookside Avenue told the council that four cars on his street — where four of 10 houses lack driveways — received $100 tickets during a recent snowstorm and asked the township to exempt the east side of Brookside Avenue from snow-parking enforcement because residents must walk in icy conditions to reach the Morris Canal parking lot.
Mayor Damiano responded that there is no active townshipwide overnight-parking ordinance in effect (it was suspended following Superstorm Sandy) and said the parcel the resident referenced is municipal property. The mayor said his primary concern is liability if vehicles parked in that municipal area are damaged during plowing operations; he pointed to the Morris Canal parking lot as the municipality’s designated area for temporary parking during snow events.
Why it matters: The exchange highlights a recurring operational tension — resident access and safety versus municipal liability and efficient snow removal — that can affect enforcement practices and resident relations in winter weather.
During discussion, Councilman Murphy suggested investigating a one-time DPW shuttle or scheduled pickup to reduce residents’ need to walk in hazardous conditions, but the mayor noted staffing and timing challenges during protracted snow events that could make coordination difficult. Council members warned that granting an exemption for one street could create precedent and complicate plowing, potentially blocking cars with plow windrows. A suggestion that residents temporarily use a closed liquor-store lot during storms was raised as a privately arranged option.
The council did not adopt any immediate policy change at the meeting but encouraged continued dialogue and for the resident to coordinate with the mayor’s office on potential arrangements. Officials said they will review feasible options but stressed the operational constraints of DPW and public-safety staffing during prolonged storms.
Ending: No ordinance or exemption was enacted; the council asked the resident to remain in contact and said it would examine possible operational responses.
