Unwieldy Snow Forces VOM Crackdown

Residents in the Village of Mamaroneck (VOM) may have to start watching where they throw their snow, or suffer the consequences.

After pileups reaching up to five feet dotted roads in the village after they had been plowed during the most recent wave of snowstorms, local officials decided enough was enough.

The law, which is still being drafted by the village, would help prevent additional piles of snow accumulation in the street after residents have plowed, shoveled or run their snow blower by making it illegal to throw snow in the street, subject to an up to $250 fine.  Currently, residents are encouraged to shovel or plow snow onto their front lawns or onto mounds on the curb.

The law is necessary, says Village Manager Rich Slingerland, to keep streets passable for police, fire, ambulance and other emergency vehicles.

Further, the village is looking at a provision to override local apartment building or business owners in Mamaroneck who don’t clean their sidewalks, by performing the work and sending the owner a bill.  The village would be able to impose an additional tax lien if the charge went unpaid, said local officials.

Residents and business owners are currently required to clean snow off their sidewalks in a timely manner, although there haven’t yet been any citations issued this year, according to Dan Sarnoff, assistant village manager.