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Mayor Hodges says city will not broadly enforce sidewalk snow-clearing ordinance, directs staff to find solutions
Summary
Mayor Treva Hodges told the council she will not broadly enforce the city ordinance requiring property owners to clear sidewalks after snow, citing fairness and residents' ability to pay or physically clear walks; she asked staff to brainstorm ways to clear sidewalks adjacent to city-owned properties.
Mayor Treva Hodges used her Feb. 2 report to praise snow-plowing crews and to address sidewalk clearance responsibilities. She noted an existing Charlestown ordinance places the duty to clear sidewalks on property owners but said she did not feel it would be fair to enforce that rule broadly because "not everyone can afford to hire someone to clear sidewalks or may not be able to physically clear them themselves." She thanked volunteers who have assisted with snow removal and directed staff to brainstorm solutions to clear sidewalks adjacent to city-owned properties.
The minutes record this as a policy-direction discussion rather than a formal ordinance change or a vote. Council members expressed appreciation for city workers and volunteers but the transcript does not record any formal proposal to change the ordinance or adopt a city-run sidewalk-clearing program.
Next steps: staff were asked to return with ideas for clearing sidewalks adjacent to city-owned properties; the transcript does not contain a timeline or budget estimate for any follow-up.
