Town Cracking Down on Property Owners Who Don't Clear Sidewalks

Manchester town officials say they’ll enforce the town’s ordinances requiring property “owners and occupants” to clear sidewalks and fire hydrants of snow after storms, according to an Associated Press account of a Manchester Journal-Inquirer article.

“Property owners, land-management agents or occupants can be fined $75 whenever a sidewalk or fire hydrant isn’t cleared within 24 hours of a snowstorm,” according to the AP article.

Here’s the town’s description of sidewalk-clearing duties by town property “owners and occupants,” from the Manchester Department of Public Works “Winter Information Guide” (page 4):

Residents are reminded that by Town Ordinance it is the responsibility of owners and occupants of buildings and vacant lots to remove snow, sleet and ice from public sidewalks abutting their property within 24 hours after the storm has concluded.

Failure to comply with this ordinance may result in a fine.

If you have difficulty with properties that have unshoveled sidewalks, you can report these to the Public Works Department at 860-647-3067.

Please remember that the final snow plow pass is not made until after the storm has concluded. Your cooperation in clearing the sidewalks is an essential safety measure for school children and other pedestrians using the sidewalks.

The same “Winter Information Guide” describes fire hydrant clearing duties this way (on page 5):

Owners of property and occupants of buildings that have a fire hydrant are required by Town Ordinance to clear a four-foot area in all directions around the hydrant and a three-foot wide path from the street to the fire hydrant.

Failure to comply with this ordinance may result in a fine. The Fire Department counts on hydrants being cleared of snow to help protect your safety.

If you have any questions, please contact the Town Fire-Rescue-EMS Department at 647-3266 or the Eighth District Fire Department at 643-7373.