Residents praise New Lebanon crews for storm response; call for more road clearance and apartment cleanups

Residents and councilors spent a large portion of the Feb. 3 New Lebanon council meeting reviewing the village’s response to a recent record winter storm and raising ongoing public-safety and code-enforcement concerns.

Public commenters praised the service, police and fire departments for their long hours and rapid response. Charles Cooper (413 Hazelhurst) thanked crews and defended the interim village manager against recent criticisms, saying disparaging remarks reflect poorly on the people making them: “When you make a disparaging comment ... you’re not disparaging the person you’re talking about. You’re disparaging yourself.” Several other residents — including a speaker who identified himself as Gary — said travel from Cincinnati and other nearby communities illustrated how difficult the storm was and expressed gratitude that New Lebanon streets were cleared.

At the same time, residents raised persistent problems: Michelle Nadulowski (301 Ledgewood Court) said curb-to-snow depths and uncleared intersections (she cited Ledgewood and Lawson, Maine and Glenna, and Clayton and 35) make on-street parking and turning hazardous and asked whether the service department could provide additional clearance and whether the police could provide guidance on parking in yards until streets are safe. Nadulowski also asked whether zoning or code enforcement could compel property owners at the Clayton Road apartments and an apartment near a Main Street drive‑thru to clean up trash and address unsafe conditions.

Service staff and councilors responded with operational updates and acknowledgments. LT and Dennis (service staff) described staggered shifts, trouble spots that still require big-equipment visits, and plans to recruit more staff and pursue CDL and wastewater training for employees. Dennis said crews removed snow affecting sightlines at a Speedway entrance and identified equipment and roofing repairs planned for village facilities; he said he had not yet received final paperwork on an EPA inquiry but expected follow-up. Police staff noted vehicle-maintenance pressures from heavy stop-and-go town driving and reported that vehicle-theft incidents have fallen sharply compared with two years ago.

Council members emphasized priorities: ensuring hydrants and emergency routes remain clear and encouraging residents to report trouble spots so crews can respond. Several councilors urged residents to avoid criticizing frontline workers on social media and to show appreciation for the time crews spent working in dangerous conditions.

Council did not adopt new enforcement rules at the meeting; council members said staff would pursue options discussed (coordination with code/zoning and targeted cleanup efforts) and encouraged further reporting of hazardous locations to the service department.