Fire Hydrant Snow Removal Ordinance Not Introduced

The Mayor and Council did not move forward with the introduction of an ordinance on Monday night that would have required homeowners to remove snow from hydrants located in front of their homes.

The snow removal ordinance had first been mentioned at a council meeting back in February and after months of debate, had been placed on the agenda for the June 27 meeting to be introduced. 

Council members Randi Duffie and Peter Rebsch voted yes with Celeste Scavetta, Dominic Colucci and Council President Howard Berner voting no. Councilman Diego Robalino abstained, asking for a "moratorium" to explore alternatives.

Colucci and Robalino said they had gone door to door in recent weeks canvassing homeowners who have hydrants in front of their homes and would be directly affected by the ordinance.

"People didn’t like that there was going to be a law telling them that they had to shovel out the hydrants and many said they already did take care of their hydrants," said Robalino. "I don't want to see someone get a ticket because they shoveled it in the morning then went to work and the snow covered it again."

A heated debate broke out between Colucci and Duffie following the vote. Colucci is the liaison to the New Milford Fire Department.

"You have an absolute inability to make a decision about this," said Duffie to Colucci. 

"Don't state that because I did make a decision," said Colucci. "Maybe you should have gone door to door, too."

"I listened to our fire department and so for them to come to us, if it means precious time for these guys I want that fire hydrant shoveled out," said Duffie. "How can you deny them this--they are volunteers and they ask for so little. I am embarrassed this council can’t pass this ordinance."

Fire Marshal Alan Silverman, who had pushed for the ordinance, was at Monday's meeting and spoke shortly after the vote.

"We are not out to give people summons, we are out to get fire hoses hooked up," said Silverman. "All I can say is we tried as a fire department to get an ordinance for compliance, just something to back us up."

Silverman said he wanted the council to reconsider bringing the ordinance back again for introduction.

Scavetta, Robalino and Colucci discussed alternate ways of promoting hydrant snow removal in lieu of the borough enacting an ordinance. 

A mass mailing, flyers being sent home through the schools, a table at National Night Out, increased promotion of the adopt-a-hydrant program and more were offered as alternatives.

"We sent out 6800 letters in the fall and one of the things in the letter is 'please don’t forget to clean hydrants' which also appeared in our newsletter," said Silverman. "We have had the adopt-a-hydrant program since 1988 and only about 20 to 30 people participate." 

Silverman said the NMFD does have a table at National Night Out and has promoted the need to keep hydrants clear at that function. 

A different fire department related ordinance was adopted by the council on Monday night by unanimous vote. Commercial properties and apartment complexes that currently do not have Knox-Boxes will now be required to have them, along with any new buildings.

A Knox-Box contains a key that allows firefighters to gain entry to a property when the fire alarm goes off without having to force their way in--the NMFD has a master key that is carried on its trucks to open the boxes throughout the borough.

Silverman had gone before the council in March to propose both the Knox-Box and  snow removal ordinances.