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Kevin Oliver submitting comments re: the snow removal ordinance.
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Official Text
To the Honorable Board:
My name is Kevin F. Oliver I live at 125 Boston Avenue I would like to comment on the recent Snow Ordnance that is being reviewed.
The current provision which provides very limited times to clean your sidewalks is inadequate. I am 72 years old and my wife has a Heart condition we can no longer shovel and must rely on Contractors none of the contractors can shovel our sidewalk in the time frame time listed in the Ordinance they need at least 24 hours from the time the snow stops to do the work. Most Contractors do commercial and municipal work and their residential customers must wait before they can do the snow work.
I once served as Supt. of Highways and Commissioner of Public Works so I know the difficulties of dealing with snow. One thing in addition to the timing in the Ordinance is why are we not requiring Tenants to shovel. Although I live in a single family house most units in Somerville are multiple and I suspect still owner occupied in at least one floor, lots have elderly who must shovel even though they do not own the sidewalks. Why can’t the city require Tenants to do the same? The City has their information since practically all have cars parked on City Streets with stickers on them. Most of the Tenants in the City are young people who could easily shovel if you can require Owners who do not own the sidewalks to shovel then you can require Tenants to do the same, although I suspect if taken to the Supreme Judicial neither could be enforced but that is another issue.
Kevin F. Oliver