uncleared sidewalks - who enforces
In Maplewood, Code Enforcement would be the department to contact. However, before you do, find out if there is a legitimate reason why your neighbors were unable to clear this time. In my case, there was structural damage done to the sidewalk and street at the corner of my property by a town tree that fell taking part of the street with it and upending the median which raised the pavers and made them unstable. This made it inadvisable to shovel near the coned off area so pedestrians would be less likely to try and walk there. You don't always know what is under a pile of snow until after the snow melts.
It is infuriating! There is a house on a large corner lot near us that, for this storm and the last one, shoveled their front path and driveway and left the sidewalk entirely untouched on both sides. And this is a sidewalk traveled by tons of elementary school children and commuters each day. Today, the Jefferson principal left her office to come help kids navigate the stretch of sidewalk for their walk home! I understand that there may be a reason someone may not get to their sidewalk on occasion, but this has now happened twice. The family has an obligation to their community to clear the sidewalk. If they are unable to do so, they should hire a snow removal service.
It annoys the crap out of me when I see unshoveled walks, or shoveled corner properties with no cut out on the corner, but for the most part we just complain amongst ourselves and don't report people. But there are always exceptions, and the one house whose owner has been a pretty bad neighbor to the entire block in general, yeah, I did call on him last year when his property was still impassable a full week after the snow
Maybe the neighborhood associations can include an article on what the law is and what is expected when it comes to shoveling sidewalks, etc. Many people probably do not legitimately know.
Leave a note on the door to inform them and then if nothing happens the next day, call the town?
iangrodman said:
Maybe the neighborhood associations can include an article on what the law is and what is expected when it comes to shoveling sidewalks, etc. Many people probably do not legitimately know.
This. It’s possible they honestly don’t know, especially if they never had to shovel their sidewalks and driveways in the city.
More than one neighbor has explained the law to them, but they don't seem to take it seriously. I like the suggestion of sharing the official ordinance with them. We don't have a neighborhood association. I think I've seen reminders on the town website or Nixle alerts in the past, but I don't think they are that observant.
Here is the link for anyone who is interested - https://www.twp.maplewood.nj.us/building-department/pages/snow-removal
§ 239-1 Removal from sidewalks required. [Amended 5-3-2011 by Ord. No. 2667-11] The owner, occupant or tenant of premises abutting or bordering on any street in the Township of Maplewood shall remove all snow and ice from the abutting sidewalks of such street or the abutting right-of-way actually used by the public within 24 hours from the end of every snowfall or hail or after the formation of ice upon the sidewalks or abutting right-of-way. In the event of ice which may be so frozen as to make removal impractical, the ice shall be thoroughly covered with sand or salt within 24 hours from the end of every fall of snow, or hail, or after the formation of ice upon the sidewalks or abutting right-of-way so as to protect against falls.
I think it's possible and probable that people don't know specifics of the ordinance, such as the time period during which removal is required. But I don't believe that people can reasonably assume that snow removal is merely an option, particularly if they are on a route to a school. Many of us lived in cities for many years and didn't remove snow ourselves, but when we moved out here it was common sense to clear off our sidewalks, just as it's common sense that you don't let your front lawn grow to two feet high or park your car on it.
exactly....rule or no rule, it is common decency to clear your sidewalk for neighbors....especially when you are on a busy road that is a main route to an elementary school! Btw...sidewalk still not cleared. And I know for a fact that this family has been informed of the 'rule'!
My neighbor got a citation once for not clearing quickly enough. If someone calls the PD, they could be alerted.
as someone who got a fine for not shoveling my corner walk--- not on a busy street where children or commuters walk---- but nonetheless, I agree that this is very irresponsible and a huge inconvenience to neighbors.
We have since gone out and bought a snowblower, and this will never happen again. I am ashamed and embarrassed for not having shoveled that one time when my husband was traveling for work and I was caring for my 2 young children, coming home late from work, and I truly did not have the energy to shovel. It will never happen again.
THAT SAID....It would have been nice if the neighbor who complained (yes, when you get the ticket, yes...the ticket told me who complained), I would have really appreciated if you had just come to me directly. Of course it would have been uncomfortable, but not nearly as uncomfortable as it is now that I know who you are who passively aggressively complained.
I totally agree that it is UNACCEPTABLE to not shovel. That said, this community prides itself on being 'communal-' so as uncomfortable as it might be, be the good neighbor and talk to your neighbor first before reporting them. In the end, it will save your relationship for he next decade or 2 that you need to live next to or near them, and a lot more comfortable at your next block party.
I would NEVER call the police unless there had previously been multiple attempts to handle it between neighbors first. But the posts upthread indicated that to be the case.
ElizMcCord said:
iangrodman said:
Maybe the neighborhood associations can include an article on what the law is and what is expected when it comes to shoveling sidewalks, etc. Many people probably do not legitimately know.
This. It’s possible they honestly don’t know, especially if they never had to shovel their sidewalks and driveways in the city.
But a light bulb doesn’t go off when they see everyone else around them clearing their walks, even late into the evening? What’s THAT thought process? A big “meh”?
We moved east from Los Angeles and then lived several years in places with no sidewalk. The first house that had a sidewalk, the landlord had to tell us it was bad manners not to shovel; mortifying. So maybe some people are honestly unaware.
With the home I called code enforcement on, he also left about 20+ bags of trash in the front yard (black trash bags and also random trash items) for weeks on end, though at least there were hedges in the front yard so while it was visible (they're straggly looking bushes) it wasn't in PLAIN view. But he also had trash on the front porch for weeks on end, which was in plain view. At one point had a dumpster that was full but he didn't bother to have it pulled and left it, overflowing, for about 3 months before he finally got around to having it, and though the driveway extents back about 80 feet he had the dumpster at the foot of the driveway where all the neighbors could see it instead of having it put a bit further back. And to clarify before anyone asks or comments, the dumpster was abandoned for 3 months, I'm NOT talking about the entire time the dumpster was there, that was well over a year. But I won't hold the times that it was being used and emptied against him, just when he took a break from his project but left the full dumpster for all to see. And the sidewalk was so jacked up from all the tree roots that one cement block was lifted so far up that I was actually able to easily slide my entire hand UNDERNEATH the concrete slab.
So no, with someone who obviously doesn't care about his neighbors, I will say that I did not approach him before calling the town in regards to the sidewalks not being shoveled. Yes, I do see how this can be considered not being neighborly and passive aggressive, but my neighbors and I also put up with a lot from this guy for a few years so I also believe I'm not totally wrong either. I never called about the trash on the lawn or the porch, the dumpster, the sidewalk repairs, etc. But I did finally get fed up and called about the snow removal since that is a safety issue
Maplewood believes in selective enforcement. The squeaky wheel get the grease. File a complaint with code enforcement online.
I know its judgmental, but having read so many posts from people like Joan Crystal who go above and beyond to keep their sidewalks clear, I need to ask.
We've had two warm days since the storm ended. My neighborhood does its best to help anyone who needs it, but we've kind of had it with the family with 2 healthy teens who still haven't shoveled their corner lot. I don't know if its because they moved here from NYC 2 years ago and just can't seem to grasp their responsibility.
Which agency is in charge of enforcement?