'Typical Snowstorm, Typical Complaints,' RW Officials Say [Poll]

Both the village and borough said they would be in clearing the first snowfall of winter. Main roads looked great in both towns but side streets on Saturday were much less impressive, according to residents.

Part of that is the fault of residents, village officials shot back late Monday.

Village officials . But come Saturday afternoon, many said the side roads were anything but complete.

One commenter on the Ridgewood-Glen Rock Facebook page reported not seeing much, if any, plowing after 4 p.m. Saturday and complained the roads around Somerville looked unsalted and frozen.

John Spano, head of Streets Division, said in an e-mail to Patch late Monday afternoon the job was done. "All the mains, hills, CBD were black when I inspected on Sunday morning," he said. "All the mains and secondaries [roads] were salted. All side streets had been plowed, however, a few had a thin layer of snow."  

Spano speculated that the resident observations as to an apparent lack of salting was due to the frigid temperatures Saturday night.

"Salt is not effective if traffic does not work it in," he said, adding that temperatures went down to 15 degrees Saturday night. "We are spot checking some areas today and will salt where necessary."

"Just like the [October] storm with branches, residents feel the need to put everything in the street," complained Village Manager Ken Gabbert. According to Gabbert, residents on Linwood Avenue "right by the hospital" were "snow blowing snow directly onto the street" after it had been completely plowed to blacktop.

"This creates a major problem and something that we have to get out there to let residents know to take responsibility and blow the snow onto their properties," he said.

"All in all this was a typical storm with typical complaints," Spano concluded. 

Take the poll, let us know what you think of the village's effort as well as the borough's. While you're at it, you may as well upload some photos of how your street looks, right?

[Editor's note: This article was updated at 4:53 p.m. to include comment from Village Manager Ken Gabbert and Streets Division head John Spano. The original article was titled, "Poll: Rate RW, GR's Snow Removal Effort."]