Towns look to enforce sidewalk clearing

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - Every winter in western New York, snow-covered sidewalks force pedestrians into the street. Officials in Amherst and East Aurora are now trying to find ways to fight the problem of dangerous sidewalks.

In Amherst, residents have been relying on the town to clean up sidewalks instead of doing it themselves.

Amherst Deputy Supervisor Guy Marlette said, "We don't have the manpower. We will probably never have the manpower to plow every sidewalk in the Town of Amherst."

East Aurora Mayor Allan Kasprzak said, "We have our problems too, just like other communities, but it seems like now it's becoming more pronounced every year. We've gotten complaints in regards to snow removal."

Both communities are now looking at creating harsher penalties to ensure the safety of pedestrians.

Marlette said, "Especially on these major thoroughfares [like] Sheridan Drive, Niagara Falls Boulevard. You can't really have people walking in the street. It's a five lane street, so it's very dangerous."

Marlette is going to bring a resolution before the Amherst Town Council suggesting the use of private contractors.

"People that have habitually not cleared their sidewalks, we can, through enforcement, clear the sidewalks for them. Through a private contractor and then apply that charge directly to their tax bill," he explained.

Mayor Kasprzak will be telling East Aurora Police officers not to hesitate in handing out fines up to $250, but currently it's been two years since one has been issued. He's also looking into door hangers that give residents a 24-hour warning to clear the way, and possibly having photos of the offense mailed to each violating property.

"On the photos themselves it will show the date and time and what they'll do is a mail a picture and keep a copy for their files and include a summons in it saying they are in violation of not clearing it out," Kasprzak explained.

Amherst currently imposes a $35 fine for residents and up to $250 for commercial properties that fail to clear their sidewalks within 24 hours. But if the new resolution using private contractors is passed, the fee will go up dramatically.

Marlette said, "A contractor on an on-call basis could go $150 and up. For a commercial property, could go from $150 to $450 fee."

Mayor Kasprzak says the bottom line is: be neighborly; help clear the sidewalks for safety and be willing to help our senior citizens and the disabled in your area.