Salem Declares Snow Emergency

Salem has declared a Snow Emergency which will be in effect from 6 Sunday night until further notice.

During the Snow Emergency a parking ban will be in effect, and vehicles must be totally removed from city streets and sidewalks or your vehicle will be ticketed and towed.

Vehicles must be removed from public and private parking lots, particularly at schools, immediately following the cancellation of the snow emergency (weekends included) or vehicles will be towed.

Snow removal will not take place in alternative parking areas, particularly at parks, until snow operations on city streets are completed, according to city officials.

Sign up for Salem Patch news alerts, follow Salem Patch on Facebook and send news tips to linda.bock@patch.com.

Other Important Snow Information:

Sidewalks: The removal of the snow and ice from sidewalks is greatly appreciated. This will help school children, the elderly, and the general public from having to walk in the street. The City of Salem clears designated sidewalks following each storm. It takes time to accomplish this task and it is only done after all the roads have been cleared.

There are city ordinances requiring property owners to remove snow and ice from their bordering sidewalks within six hours after the snow ceases to fall or the city’s snow emergency lights are turned off, whichever time is later. ~If the snow ceases to fall and the snow emergency lights are turned off in the nighttime, the snow shall be removed before noon. If he/she neglects to do so, he/she shall be fined $25 for 1st offense, $75 for 2nd offense and $100 for 3rd and subsequent offenses.

Driveways: While the Department of Public Services tries to minimize the amount of snow that gets plowed across driveways and exits, it is unavoidable. Clearing driveway openings is the responsibility of the property owner.Plow blades cannot be lifted as they pass by a driveway.Unfortunately, snow will be plowed into driveways as we perform curb-to-curb plowing.You may wish to clear your driveway several times during the storm or wait until the storm and plowing activities have ended.~Snowplowing, shoveling, or throwing snow back onto the street when clearing driveways and sidewalks is prohibited by City Ordinance and violators can be fined $75 for 1st offense, $150 for 2nd offense and $200 for 3rd and subsequent offenses.

Catch basins: Help stop street flooding by shoveling out catch basins near your home.

Fire hydrants: There are many Fire Hydrants in the City of Salem. Please help city crews Keep Salem safe by shoveling around the hydrant near your home.

ALTERNATIVE DESIGNATED PARKING AREAS: During a snow emergency, parking in the city garages is $5/24 hours, or any fraction thereof. Vehicles should be removed from the garage by the close of business the day the snow emergency concludes. Vehicles left in the garage after that time will begin to accrue charges at the regular hourly parking rate.

• Museum Place Parking Garage
• South Harbor Garage
• Blaney Street Parking lot (Salem Ferry Landing)
• Forest River Park,Gallows Hill lower
• Mack Park
• Broad Street Playground
• Castle Hill Playground
• Salem Willows Park
• Bentley School lot
• Carlton School lot
• Witchcraft Heights School lot
• Bates School lot
• Saltonstall parking area on Salem Street only
• Collins Middle School - Jackson Street parking area.

Image: wikipedia.org