Syracuse residents who don’t shovel sidewalks during the winter are again escaping a fine. The Common Council has again rejected a proposed fine for property owners who don’t shovel their sidewalks after a snowstorm.
There were too many concerns from councilors ahead of the vote Monday and it was defeated 7-2.
Improving the surface area of sidewalks cleared after snowfall has been councilor Bob Dougherty’s priority for about a year. His effort to fine property owners $100 for not shoveling was defeated last year. A revised versionworked on since has been defeated again.
Dougherty’s second attempt would have imposed a $50 fine after one warning for certain property owners. He worked with city departments to identify priority streets that are well-traveled or near schools.
"There’s no teeth in the ordinance we have right now to have people clear their sidewalks," Dougherty said after the vote.
Councilors were concerned about elderly or low-income residents being penalized. Councilor Jean Kessner says there was hypocrisy in fining residents for something the city itself has trouble doing.
"We need to clear the sidewalks. And if the city steps up to the plate and clears its sidewalks, I would be totally open to this," she said.
Councilors expressed some interest in continuing a year-long conversation with departments on improving snow removal, but Syracuse’s official stance to the council is: it will do the best it can.
"I think they have to decide what they are going to do," Dougherty said. "I think if the city had made a stronger commitment, possibly, to do that, then I think there would have been a better chance of this passing."
Dougherty had hoped the law would be a step in the right direction to improve sidewalk clearing.
