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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-16-90 TOWN OF NEWCASTLE REPORT Cti File # Res. # -- t_,- By-Law # METING: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 1990 REPORT #: Wn-16-9 O FILE #: _ SUB,ECT: REMOVAL OF SNOW FROM SIDEWALKS RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report WD-16-90 be received; 2 . THAT the Town not implement a snow clearing program for senior citizens; and 3 . THAT a copy of this report be sent to Mrs . Sexsmith and Community Care and that they be advised of Council's decision. --------------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT 1. 0 ATTACHMENT No. l: Report WD-82-84 2 . 0 BACKGROUND 2 . 1 At a regular meeting held on Janaury 15, 1990, Council passed Resolution #C-22-90: "THAT the correspondence dated November 25, 1989, from Olive Sexsmith, requesting that the Town clear snow from sidewalks of senior citizens be received; 1 004 . . .2 REPORT NO. : WD-16-90 PAGE 2 THAT the correspondence be referred to the Director of Public Works to investigate and report to the General Purpose and Administration Committee on the possibility of having the sidewalks of senior citizens cleared and all costs associated with this activity" . 3. 0 REVIEW AND COMMENT 3. 1 Snow removal from sidewalks in the Town of Newcastle has been reviewed on previous occasions; i) By-law 78-119 is a municipal by-law respecting the removal of ice and snow within the Town of Newcastle. ii) Report WD-82-84 was submitted to Council stating some of the factors to be considered regarding sidewalk snow removal (Attachment No. l) . 3 .2 Some neighbouring municipalities have implemented a snow clearing service for Seniors and Disabled residents . 3. 3 To implement a sidewalk snow clearing service in the Town it would be necessary to develop a Policy and carry out a detailed investigation to consider the type of service, eligibility, cost of providing the service, manpower, etc. In addition, initiation of such a service would have considerable impact on the Winter Maintenance Budget. 3.4 In view of all the demands on available funds, it is my opinion that the implementation of a snow clearing of sidewalks program cannot be justified at this time. 3 . 5 Presently, sidewalk snow clearing services are available to Seniors and the Disabled in the Town of Newcastle through the Community Care Office located in Bowmanville for a nominal fee of $4 . 00 per hour. . . .3 X005 i I I REPORT NO. : WD-16-90 PAGE 3 3. 6 Mrs . Roxy Barnes, Community Care Office, advised that Mrs . Sexsmith is registered with the organization and is eligible for snow clearing services. If snow clearing service is required, a telephone call to Community Care (623-2261) will initiate the service. 4 .0 RECOMMENDATION: 4 .2 In view of the above, it is recommended that the Town not implement a sidewalk snow clearing program for senior citizens. Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation to the Committee, j--- 11 ------------------ t Walter A. Evans, P. Eng. , Lawrenc Kotseff, Director of Public Works . Chief A inistrative Officer. WAE*JCO*llv February 9 , 1990 Attachments cc: Mrs . Olive Sexsmith 58 Wellington Street Bowmanville, Ontario 11C 1V5 Community Care Office 80 King Street Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 1R4 1006 i - I C 4 i I i I i i CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT R. DUPUIS, P.ENG., DIRECTOR HAMPTON,ONTARIO TEL.(416)263-2231 LOB 1JO 987.5039 REPORT TO THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 19, 1984. REPORT NO. : WD-82-84 SUBJECT: SNOW REMOVAL ON SIDEWALKS IN URBAN AREAS . RECOMMENDATION: It is respectfully recommended: That this report be received for information . REPORT: Each winter season the Town receives complaints about snow on sidewalks as well as requests for Town service for snow removal . Earlier last year, in response to such a request , Report WD-6-83 was presented and is attached hereto for information. The information presented in that report is still relevant, however, could be updated to reflect higher costs due to inflation. Also, the report dealt specifically with snow removal on sidewalks in Bowmanville and it should be pointed out that the Town also has sidewalks in the other urban areas of Newcastle Village and Orono, as well as hamlets such as Haydon , Enniskillen, Hampton , Newtonville, etc. If the Town elected to remove snow on sidewalks, it is only reasonable to assume that all areas should receive equivalent service and therefore the costs set out in Report WD-6-83 would likely be doubled. ATfACHIIENT NQ 1 1007 0-16-60 . . . .2 Page 2 REPORT NO. WD-82-84 I Recently there has been discussion about sidewalk snow removal in the City of Oshawa and the Town of Whitby, and a considerable amount of investigation on the matter has taken place. Some of the factors determined are as follows: 1. Costs are extremely high; 2. Due to sidewalk conditions and the obstructions around which equipment must work, a good, acceptable level of service is difficult to achieve. Snow removal by the Town could only be performed through the use of tractors , bombardiers, etc. , and such equipment does not clear snow to the standard expected by the public. 3. The equipment used causes extensive damage to lawns, landscaping, etc. 4. Where the service has been provided on a pilot project basis in some municipalities there have been so many difficulties that it was ultimately dropped. In light of the above it is not recommended that the Town embark on sidewalk snow removal but rather continue to rely upon By-law 78-119 for this service. Where taxpayers have complaints about non-removal of snow by owners abutting a particular length of sidewalk, they need r;ierely contact the By-law Enforcement Officer to have the situation rectified. . . . .3 1008 Page 3 REPORT NO. WD-82-84 Where property owners are incapable of removing snow on sidewalks themselves, assistance can be obtained through the schools , Canada Manpower, Community Care and other such organizations. Respectfully submitted, X4��Izl R.G. Dupuis , P. Eng. , Director of Public Works . RGD:jco November 13, 1984. Attachment 1009 CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT R. DUPUIS, P. ENG., DIRECTOR HAMPTON,ONTARIO TEL.(416)263.2231 LOB WO 987.5039 REPORT TO THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF JANUARY 17 , 1983. REPORT NO. : WD-6-83 SUBJECT: BY-LAW RELATED TO THE REMOVAL OF SNOW ON SIDEWALKS IN URBAN AREAS RECOMMENDATION: It is respectfully recommended: I . That this report be received for information; and, 2. That a copy of this report be forwarded to Mrs. Olive Sexsmith to clarify the Town' s Policy for snow removal on sidewalks. REPORT: The Town of BowmanviIIe has approximately 30 miles of sidewalk. Sidewalk clearing, if undertaken by the Town, would result in a very high expenditure. It is estimated that, excluding an initial outlay of some $40,000. for equipment, annual costs for the municipality to clear sidewalks of snow would be $10,000. to $20,000. per year. 1010 i 2 - For this reason, most municipalities in Ontario do not perform snow removal from sidewalks, but, a by-law is passed whereby individual property owners are responsible for removing snow from the sidewalks adjacent to their property. For the elderly or disabled, there are service organizations and/or high school students who will , for an annual fee, perform this task. Attached is a copy of the Town of Newcastle Snow Removal By-law for the information and reference of Council Members. Should questions arise during this winter season, reference should be made to this by-law. Respectfully submitted, R.G. Dupuis , P. Eng. , Director of Public Works . January 6 , 1983. RGD :jco 01 1 THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE BY-LAW NO. 78-119 being a by-law respecting the removal of snow and ice within the Town of Newcastle WHEREAS it is deemed advisable and expedient to provide for the clearing away and removal of snow and ice from highways and side- walks by the occupants or owners of lands and premises adjacent thereto , and also the removal of snow and ice from roofs or projections of building; AND WHEREAS the authority for so doing is contained in The Municipal Act , R. S.O. 1970, Chapter 284, Section 354(1) , paragraphs 55, 56 and 57. NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Town of Newcastle ENACTS AS FOLLOWS : 1. In the geographic areas of the former Town of Bowmanville , Village of Newcastle and the Police Village of Orono, every owner or occupant of every building, lot , or parcel of land fronting or abutting on any street or highway shall clear away and remove, or cause to be cleared away and removed, the snow and ice entirely from the sidewalk on _the highway in-front of alongside of or at the rear of such building, lot or parcel of land, within 24 hours from the commencement of snowfall . 2. In the geographic areas of the former Town of Bowmanville, Village of Newcastle and Police Village of Orono, every owner or occupant of every building upon a lot fronting or abutting on a sidewalk on a highway, where the closest point of the eave of such building is less than three meters measured horizontally from ' the sidewalk, shall clear away and remove, or cause to be cleared away and removed, the snow and ice from the roof of such building within 24 hours from the commencement of snowfall, 3. The snow and ice required to be removed under paragraphs 1 and 2 hereof, shall be removed without damage to the sidewalk, with proper care and precaution for the safety of persons passing and shall be deposited in such a way as not to obstruct access to any fire hydrant. 4. No person shall place any snow or ice from his or her property upon the travelled portion of any highway or upon any sidewalk in the Town of Newcastle. 1012 i 4, - 5 . Where an owner or occupant has failed to comply with the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2 hereof, The Corporation of the Town of Newcastle, upon 2 hours prior notice in writing to the owner or occupant of such lot or parcel of land , or building , may clear and remove such snow or ice as is required to be removed under paragraphs 2 and 3 hereof and for that purpose its servants or agents may enter upon any lot or parcel of land and any building to remove snow or ice from the roof thereof. 6 . Notwithstanding paragraph 5 hereof, where the Corporation of the Town of Newcastle is unable to immediately locate the owner or occupant of the lot or building , no notice need be given and the Corporation of the Town of Newcastle may clear and remove such snow and ice as is required to be removed under paragraphs 2 and 3 hereof, and for that purpose its servants or agents may enter upon any lot or parcel of land and any building to remove snow and ice from the roof thereof. 7 . In the event of an emergency, real or apprehended, the Corpor- ation of the Town of Newcastle may clear and remove such snow and ice as is required to .be removed under paragraphs 1 and 2 hereof, and for that purpose its servants or agents may enter upon any lot or parcel of land or any building without prior notice to the owner or occupant . 8 . In the event that snow and ice is removed from the sidewalk on the highway in front of, alongside of, or at the rear of -- such-lot or parcel of land, or from the roof -,of--any building - by building by The Corporation of the Town of Newcastle , its servants or agents , the expenses incurred in such cases may be recovered by action, or the amount may be entered in the tax collector 's roll and recovered in the like manner as municipal taxes . 9 . The Corporation of the Town of Newcastle may clear away or remove snow and ice from the roofs of all unoccupied buildings where the eave of such building is less than three meters measured horizontally from the sidewalk, without notice to the owner thereof, and the expenses incurred in so doing may be recovered by action, or the amount may be entered in the tax collector ' s roll and recovered in like manner as municipal taxes . 10 . The removal of snow or ice by The Corporation of the Town of Newcastle , its servants , agents or employees , shall not relieve any person from liability for breach of the provisions of this by-law. 11 . Any person who violates the provisions of this by-law shall be guilty of an offence liable on conviction thereof to a penalty of not less than $50 . 00 and not more than $200 . 00 , ex- clusive of costs for each such offence , and every such penalty shall be recoverable under the provisions of The Summary Con- victions Act . 1 n 1 3 12 . By- law 1839 and By-law 71- 3 of The Corporation of the Town of Bowmanville and all other by-laws inconsistent with the provisions of this by- law are hereby repealed. This by- law shall come into force and take effect on the day of enactment. BY-LAW READ a first and second time this 18tWay of December 1978 . BY-LAW READ a third and final time this 18th day of December 1978 . G. B. Rickard Mayor J. M. McIlroy 1C exk X014