Residents Petition City Hall for Snow Removal

The old saying, "You can't fight City Hall," often serves as an impediment when citizens want to challenge their elected officials. But don't tell that to more than 75 residents who live in an apartment complex on 20 Central St.

They filed a petition addressed to Mayor Michael Bonfanti and City Clerk Timothy Spanos calling for safer city streets and sidewalks they argue are clogged with snow so they can walk safely downtown, patronize businesses and access services.

"Elderly residents and voters living in the vicinity of Peabody Square number over 400 individuals. Many of us do not drive and need to shop at local stores, attend religious services, or may require walking as exercise, and thus need to walk in this area. However, snow and ice on the sidewalks keep us homebound for force us to walk in the street," the petition signed by 86 residents reads.

Last week, the city experienced its second blizzard in less than a month. The second major snow storm dumped more than 18 inches of snow. The work to clear downtown streets and sidewalks for Department of Public Services crews and contractors has been difficult because with so much snow there is simply no place to put it, which forces crews to block sidewalks to clear streets that connect to Main Street.

The City Council passed an ordinance in early December requiring downtown merchants to clear the sidewalks in front of their businesses and nearly all of them have complied. But there are still many other areas in the downtown that are not cleared, which makes it difficult for pedestrians to navigate their way up and down Main Street, Foster Street, Lowell Street and Cental Street.

The petitioners argue the city cannot make the downtown a destination if people cannot walk safely in the area. "Schoolchildren should not be forced to walk in the street."

The petitioners also claim that despite the obligation of the city to enforce snow clearance ordinances and to clear sidewalks adjacent to city property, "many business and property owners as well as the city neglect to keep the sidewalks clear."

The petitioners also say that inadequate signage and traffic lights at the intersection of Walnut and Central streets and the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Central Street cause challenges and risks for drivers and pedestrians.

"We, the undersigned, therefore demand that the Council and the city take all such measures immediately as may be necessary to assure safe travel on the city streets and sidewalks," the petition reads.

They also argue the city should create an office that would be responsible for enforcing existing city snow removal ordinances and issue fines for non-compliance. They also suggest a hotline could be created to receive complaints and that a committee comprised of citizens should be formed to advice the mayor on progress toward solving these problems.

The City Council did not discuss the petition at its last meeting on Thursday and voted to refer it to the Sub-Committee on Muncipal Safety, which is chaired by City Councilor-at-large Michael Garabedian.

Following the council meeting, Ward 2 City Councilor Arthur Athas said the downtown residents do raise important safety issues. He said they also contribute a great deal to many downtown businesses and rely on many services. He also said the same type of complaints are aired by residents every winter as the city struggles to clean up snow storms and clear sidewalks downtown.