Bridgewater To Impose Higher Fines In New Snow, Ice Clearing Ordinance

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater Township Council unanimously introduced an ordinance that would expand the township's snow and ice removal rules to cover certain private roadways in multifamily residential developments.

The ordinance introduced at the April 9 meeting would amend Chapter 182 of the township code and require owners of multifamily developments with three or more dwelling units to remove snow and ice from private roadways open to the public or where the public is invited within 12 hours of daylight after snowfall stops, unless a longer period is set in an emergency.

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The ordinance states its purpose is to "promote the public health, safety and welfare by requiring the timely removal of snow and ice from sidewalks, public rights-of-way, and certain private roadways within the Township of Bridgewater in order to ensure the safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles, maintain access for emergency services, and prevent hazardous conditions caused by the accumulation of snow and ice."

The ordinance says failure to clear those private sidewalks "shall be subject to enforcement by summons or penalty."

Bucko also said the ordinance changes penalties in Section 9.

"It changes the minimum fine for violation of chapter 182 section 1.3 to be $1,500 and a maximum of $5,000," Bucko said.

Bucko said that a higher penalty would apply only to the new section covering "the removal from private roadways servicing multifamily residential developments by their owners."

He said other violations would remain under the existing fine structure of up to $500, including "failure to clear a sidewalk or throwing your snow into the street."

The draft would allow the township to remove snow or ice from public sidewalks and from covered private multifamily roadways if responsible parties do not act in time, then certify the cost as a lien on the property, as authorized by state law cited in the ordinance.

The proposal says those remedies are cumulative and that township removal would not mean the township has assumed responsibility for private property conditions.

Councilman Michael Kirsh said municipal snow and ice removal on private property is "anticipated to be an absolute last resort."

The introduction passed, and a final vote and public hearing are scheduled for Thursday, April 23, at 7 p.m. in the courtroom.

• Previous reporting: Hefty Snow-Clearing Fines Could Be Imposed In Bridgewater For Non-Compliance

See the introduced ordinance below:

11b by Alexis Tarrazi

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