Caldwell Police On Snow Storm: ‘Please Stay At Home’

CALDWELLS, NJ — Please stay at home. And remember to move your cars so plows can clear the roads. That was the message from the Caldwell Police Department on Thursday, as weather forecasters called for a snowy nor'easter in New Jersey.

Forecasters are predicting the possibility of several inches of snow/rain and 55-mph winds, which may create the potential for power outages and hazardous roads. (Read more about the forecast here)

Caldwell University administrators announced the school will be closing at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15 due to the weather. All evening classes and activities for Thursday are canceled.

The Caldwell Police Department issued the following advisory at 9:56 a.m. on Thursday:

“The Borough of Caldwell and the Caldwell Police Department would like to inform our residents of the hazardous road conditions due to the pending snow storm. We urge all our residents to please stay at home and not to brave these hazardous conditions unless it is a dire emergency that you must travel out on these roadways. Also, we urge all residents not to park your vehicles in the roadway overnight or during the snow storm so the roads can be cleared properly as per our Borough Ordinance 230-37, ‘Parking on snow-covered streets prohibited.’”

Caldwell police said that residents should keep in mind that fire hydrants near their homes should be cleared from snow in case of an emergency.

“As the day moves on and the night falls upon us, the temperatures will drop to low levels which will cause freezing and create an even more hazardous travelling condition,” the CPD stated. “Please allow our Department of Public Works and the County of Essex to clear the roadways and make them safe for travel.”

Caldwell police provided the following information about the borough ordinance about clearing of sidewalks and walkways:

§ 207-8 Removal of snow and ice; time limit. [Amended 2-24-2004 by Ord. No. 1139-04; 5-6-2014 by Ord. No. 1290-14]

The owner of lands abutting the public streets of the Borough shall remove or cause to be removed from abutting sidewalks of said lands:

• A) If the land is used for commercial purposes, all snow and ice within four hours after the same shall have accumulated thereon, or by 12:00 noon, whichever is later.
• B) If the land is used for residential purposes, all snow and ice within eight hours after the same shall have accumulated thereon, or by 8:00 p.m., whichever is later.

The CPD also reminded residents not to clear snow from sidewalks or driveways into the public roadways as per the following borough ordinance:

§ 207-9 Formation of banks and mounds. [Amended 7-13-1999 by Ord. No. 1073-99; 5-6-2014 by Ord. No. 1290-14]

• A) No person owning property within the Borough shall allow any snow or ice to be removed from any driveway owned by said person or from any sidewalk abutting a public street and placed or deposited in any public street or upon any public sidewalk within the Borough.
• B) An owner of property from which snow or ice is removed from any driveway or sidewalk in violation of Subsection A shall be responsible for the violation and subject to the provisions of §§ 207-10 and 207-11.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Caldwells Facebook page here. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: Shutterstock