Dear Neighbors:
Given that our winter weather keeps on coming, I hope these reminders are helpful. Please forward to others.
SNOW REMOVAL LAWS in West Chester: Please see sections from the Borough Code below regarding snow removal laws regarding salting and shoveling sidewalks and laws prohibiting snow being dumped (plowed, shoveled, etc) into any public street, park or public property. The main concern at this time is people shoveling or plowing snow back onto the streets.
TICKETING: Because of the amount of snow we are dealing with, police will be enforcing and ticketing to try to keep private snow removal operators and people from pushing snow onto the streets and adding to the problem of keeping our streets clear. ( See Subsection “C” below).
SNOW/WEATHER UPDATES: Please go to www.downtownwestchester.com for updates on snow removal operations in the Borough. Remember that a snow emergency is not in effect unless it is called by the Mayor, at which time the Borough’s call-out system “CTY”, will call and email details.
SNOW EMERGENCY ROUTES: Snow emergency routes with the 4” sign are in effect regardless of a called snow emergency. Cars not removed will be ticket and towed. Other “snow emergency routes” (without 4”on the signs) are NOT in effect unless an official “snow emergency” is called, at which times all cars must be removed from those routes and the parking garages are open for free parking during the duration of the “emergency”.
WHY AREN’T MY PARKING LANES (ALLEY, etc.) PLOWED??!!: Please know that the borough puts public safety first, and has a plan in place to clear those routes first that are most critical to the passage of emergency vehicles. If your street and parking lanes are not being cleared as well as you would like, please know that the Public Works department will get there. If we were in Buffalo, we would have the equipment and employees to clear much more quickly, as heavy snow is the norm there. It only feels like we are in Buffalo… If heavy winter snows become the norm for West Chester, then we will have to rethink our budget and resources allocation. But for now, we will operate as effectively and efficiently as we can with the resources we have, and with public safety, the priority – which means that your parking lanes will eventually be plowed during the “no parking 8-11am” zones as resources allow.
That being said, we all agree that the Mayor should have called a Snow Emergency for the last storm! Hindsight is 20/20. I regret all inconvenience that you endured. We continually review our snow removal procedures, and met just today to make a few additional improvements in operation and communication. We will keep working to improve things as we manage the challenges our beautiful and historic streets present to us!
Thank you and take good care of yourself in the coming inclement weather.
Best,
Carolyn T. Comitta
Mayor of West Chester
