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Council discusses sidewalk-clearing options after blizzard; residents raise ADA-access concerns
Summary
Following the blizzard, residents told the council that accessible parking spaces and sidewalks remained impassable. The town manager outlined three policy options—status quo (voluntary compliance), ordinance with fines, or town-funded removal—and pledged improved communication and targeted removal priorities for school routes and condensed village areas.
Several residents urged the council to address snow-clearing deficiencies that left ADA-designated parking spaces blocked and sidewalks hazardous after the recent blizzard.
Mary Lo Presti told the council she had notified the manager in February about accessible spaces in the municipal lot that were plowed-in and unavailable, and said the problem persisted after the large storm. "I drove through the lot today, not only was that spot that was covered on February 19, covered, it was even more so," she said, and asked the council how to ensure consistent enforcement and access for people with disabilities.
Councilors and the town manager discussed options for revising the town's approach. The manager outlined three choices for policy-makers: (1) maintain the current practice (property owners are responsible and the town assists where safety/children are affected), (2) adopt an ordinance that imposes fines for failure to clear sidewalks, or (3) purchase equipment and staff to do sidewalk clearing town-wide (which would raise ongoing costs and taxes).
Manager (paraphrased): "Box 1 is status quo... Box 2 is enact an ordinance and there will be fines... Box 3 is we buy equipment and hire people and raise taxes." Councilors said they would work with the Post Road Business Alliance, improve pre-winter communications to property owners and consider targeted solutions for high‑priority pedestrian routes, but raised concern about cost, liability and the limited availability of private vendors.
Next steps: the manager said the administration will meet with business leaders, improve communication about property-owner responsibilities before next winter, and report back with recommendations; residents asked for faster action on cleared accessible parking and bus stops.
