Four years after the demolition of the historic Mamatseos building on North Main Street, the city can’t even get its owner to clear the sidewalks there.
After trying unsuccessfully to get the Fairfield-based AGL, LLC to remove snow and ice from the heavily traveled walkways at the corner of North Main and North streets, the city finally hired a local contractor to do the work.
It’s not that unusual.
Police Officer Tom Lavigne, who handles many code enforcement issues, said Tuesday that when the police get calls about sidewalks that aren’t shoveled, an officer goes out to check on the complaint.
If it’s valid, he said, the officer leaves a warning notice so the owner will know he faces an infraction if it’s not cleared quickly.
Lavigne said that if the work isn’t done, pictures are taken and paperwork written up so that the city could prevail if someone opts to challenge the ticket in court.
“There’s a lot involved,” Lavigne said.
Usually, of course, that doesn’t happen.
Lavigne said that failing to clear sidewalks is a hazard for pedestrians and a threat to public safety.
City Councilor Kevin McCauley, who heads the Code Enforcement Committee, said residents who see sidewalks that are covered with snow and ice should call dispatchers at the police station to let them know about the problem.
Lavigne said property owners have between 9 and 12 hours after a snowstorm to get their walkways clear, depending on the time when the storm stops.
But, he said, nobody’s going to crack the whip if it takes a little longer.
However, as dozens of property owners find out every winter, there is a limit.
Lavigne said cases typically land on his desk 24 to 48 hours after a storm is over.
McCauley said the hope is that most owners will act to clear the snow when an officer warns them. But some don’t, he said, and that’s a concern.
Lavigne said the Mamatseos property owner promised to get the sidewalks clear right away when he called. But when it wasn’t done the next day, he turned to D’Amato Construction to shovel it out, a bill that AGL will ultimately have to pay along with its $75 fine.
For now, the city is calling two local contractors to clear snow, D’Amato and Laviero Construction, but the purchasing office is preparing a new list that may open the door to other firms.
George Wallace, the second-in-command at the public works department, said the city used to have a regular list of people to call, but stopped about five years ago when public works started doing the clearing instead.That’s no longer possible so the city again needs to turn to contractors willing to do the job, officials said.
Shoveling rules
If a storm ends between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., property owners have nine hours to clear sidewalks. They have 12 hours from the end of other storms.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
After trying unsuccessfully to get the Fairfield-based AGL, LLC to remove snow and ice from the heavily traveled walkways at the corner of North Main and North streets, the city finally hired a local contractor to do the work.
It’s not that unusual.
Police Officer Tom Lavigne, who handles many code enforcement issues, said Tuesday that when the police get calls about sidewalks that aren’t shoveled, an officer goes out to check on the complaint.
If it’s valid, he said, the officer leaves a warning notice so the owner will know he faces an infraction if it’s not cleared quickly.
Lavigne said that if the work isn’t done, pictures are taken and paperwork written up so that the city could prevail if someone opts to challenge the ticket in court.
“There’s a lot involved,” Lavigne said.
Usually, of course, that doesn’t happen.
Lavigne said that failing to clear sidewalks is a hazard for pedestrians and a threat to public safety.
City Councilor Kevin McCauley, who heads the Code Enforcement Committee, said residents who see sidewalks that are covered with snow and ice should call dispatchers at the police station to let them know about the problem.
Lavigne said property owners have between 9 and 12 hours after a snowstorm to get their walkways clear, depending on the time when the storm stops.
But, he said, nobody’s going to crack the whip if it takes a little longer.
However, as dozens of property owners find out every winter, there is a limit.
Lavigne said cases typically land on his desk 24 to 48 hours after a storm is over.
McCauley said the hope is that most owners will act to clear the snow when an officer warns them. But some don’t, he said, and that’s a concern.
Lavigne said the Mamatseos property owner promised to get the sidewalks clear right away when he called. But when it wasn’t done the next day, he turned to D’Amato Construction to shovel it out, a bill that AGL will ultimately have to pay along with its $75 fine.
For now, the city is calling two local contractors to clear snow, D’Amato and Laviero Construction, but the purchasing office is preparing a new list that may open the door to other firms.
George Wallace, the second-in-command at the public works department, said the city used to have a regular list of people to call, but stopped about five years ago when public works started doing the clearing instead.That’s no longer possible so the city again needs to turn to contractors willing to do the job, officials said.
Shoveling rules
If a storm ends between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., property owners have nine hours to clear sidewalks. They have 12 hours from the end of other storms.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
7 comments:
Why not let public works guys do this work on overtime? The jerk landlord pays for it (not the taxpayers), and it puts a few extra bucks in the city worker's pocket.
This is an UNFUNDED MANDATE on the part of the city. (Thanks Art)
The city clears some sidewalks and not others!
And they complain about the state mandates????
the new Walgreens didn't clear their sidewalks on South Street. I guess when the Zoning commission helps you break the building rules in the first place, the city won't care about enforcing other rules on them either. A lot of kids walk that way too, I hope none of them got hurt.
Laverio and D'Amato
What a surprise!!!
How funy is it that Laviero got the contracts to install most of the sidewalks in the city and now they get picked to shovel them also. Oh yeah, maybe it's just a coincidence.
Many owners dont live in Bristol !
When living in Forestville , I always shoveled our sidewalk even though no compensation from the landlord !! I even put plastic on the windows since we had no primary source of heat. I even lived not far from Tom Lavigne and went to boot Camp with Kevin M
Artie takes care of the laviro clan, afterall his son married one of mory's daughters.
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