Snow removal at issue
By MICHAEL ANICH/The Leader-HeraldJOHNSTOWN - The city wants to crack down on people shoveling or snowblowing into city streets.
In his liaison report to the Common Council Monday night at City Hall, 2nd Ward Councilman J. Christopher Foss noted it's against the law for residents to shovel or snowblow into city streets.
"The snow in the roads has become a real problem in the city," Mayor Sarah J. Slingerland said.
She said the city needs to regulate such activity.
"It's just dangerous and creates huge problems for the plows," the mayor said.
Officials said the city should encourage more media attention on the issue, but beyond that, 1st Ward Councilwoman Cynthia Lakata said the city should "ticket some people" to get the message across to residents.
Police Chief Gregory Horning said police responded to a call of someone blowing snow into the street near the old Lee Dyeing plant, and the situation was rectified.
"If our guys see it, they stop and tell the people," Horning said.
The police chief said there is also a problem with people pushing snow out of driveways and across streets.
"That's done all over the city by a lot of people," Horning said.
City Engineer Charles Kortz said excess snow and ice can cause mechanical problems for Department of Public Works plows.
Slingerland said one snow- removal trip around the city costs $4,300 - $2,500 for manpower and $1,800 for salt and sand.
Foss said city crews have completed leaf collection, and the yard waste deposit site is closed until spring. Sand barrels are being filled and work is ongoing to clean some sewers with a sewer jet.
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resident69
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12-18-08 9:02 AM
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Wow Gloversville plowed my street at or near Noontime!?!?!?!? I heard at stewarts this morning one guy asked why the plows took so long? He said he was told the schools were delays so no rush. If that's true, then someone needs to be fired. While school bus safety is a concern so is my life when I leave for work at 5 am. Johnstown always seems to be on top of keeping street maintained...gloversville doesn't have that same mind set.
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fenny23
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12-18-08 7:31 AM
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Hey, Johnstown residents! If you want to throw snow in the streets, move to Gloversville! They don't plow them anyway or enforce that law when they do! And the mixture of snow with brown leaves on our streets is such a lovely site this time a year.
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AVONlady
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12-18-08 7:14 AM
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It is dangerous to plow/blow the snow into the street. 2x while driving Iduring this storm I had people blow their snow onto my car while I was driving. That is scary and could cause an accident, or even a cracked winshield!
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saveDanimals
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12-18-08 2:23 AM
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I'll tell you i have a near bankrupt employer that bleed or pension dry. My social security and total disability leaves me victim to a city that has decades to over come the city problem and now threatens to fine eve3ryone that doesn't shovel the snow.A publics works dept that has certain people that get pensions pay for hours spent on their own private business. If you fine disabled people that are disabled and or seniors yoiu are unfit to run a city. If you think your bond rates are high now just wait till the bonding companies that you borrow municipal money fro =m find out how you are treating your older citizens. I think they will decide you are facin g a massive tax revolt for longer than you can imagine especially since people should refiance to the hilkt and for any reason then through the key ion the mail box and walk away. You have made thisw town a gift for municipal workers bleeding home owners now threaten to tax peopole for snow fines. It should be like garbage remov
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TheArchitect
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12-17-08 8:18 PM
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The real "snow removal at issue" is the recent decision by local and state DPW leaders to not plow and salt the roads in the morning following a snow event. This is a drastic change in operations and as evidenced by the latest events, many drivers have wrecked their vehicles at a high cost. It will only stop with someone of stature unfortunately dies and then it will be mandated to remove the snow from the roads early each mornings.
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Adirondackal
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12-17-08 4:31 PM
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Gloversville is a disgrace and I don't blame the DPW. The roads have never been a priority to this council and being mayor has never been a priority to this mayor.
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westielover
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12-17-08 4:17 PM
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Come on Folks, as least they are REMOVING the snow, not like another city I know!
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CuriousGeorge
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12-17-08 3:55 PM
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Some areas have very little space to put the snow. People who blatantly throw snow into the road are different than those justpushing it into a space where it will "fit". Not all are intentionally trying to break a law (or is it an ordinance?). Push it near the curb, get a ticket. Let it stay on the sidewalk, get a ticket. No-win situation. So what if it's pushed across the road. Do I technically own my side of the road and my neighbor owns his/hers? What do you think about that $25.00 snow plow permit in G'ville?
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ReclaimGville
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12-17-08 3:54 PM
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Hey Don't Buy, I totally agree people should not be putting snow in the street, whether blowing, shoveling or plowing, but what do you want the plow operators to do, lift the blade at every driveway???? Come on that is impossible. You want your street plowed, you have to take the good with the bad i guess.
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LHReader
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12-17-08 2:34 PM
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This is a good thing, to bad it doesn't apply to everywhere the snow flies. I hate it when I am driving down the road and some idiot is snowblowing into the roadway... doesn't even stop while I'm driving by. Very inconsiderate and disrespectful.HA to all of you that's guilty and I hope you get caught! I think for an additional punishment we should get to throw em' in the snowbank ! LOL
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Hairston
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12-17-08 1:46 PM
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You are rightresident69, you should have to obtain to license to breed in Fulton County. Thats the only way to clean up the area
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DontBuyTheBull
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12-17-08 12:53 PM
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Don't shovel into the road! What about the driveway owners, who clear their driveway without putting the excess into the road, only to have the plow mountain it up at the end of the driveway? Not to mention the roads that aren't even plowed....
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resident69
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12-17-08 12:18 PM
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Diccobulous: the ones that rake large piles of leaves into the street will be the same ones to complain when the storm drains are clogged after a heavy rain. I have always said imbreeding leads to even dumber people. They should be spayed or neutered to avoid more people like them. Also, what's with people shoveling against the direction the plow will push the snow? Gee they want to shovel even more snow when it plus the street gets pushed into their driveway.
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resident69
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12-17-08 12:14 PM
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They need to crack down on the clowns that plow across the street or plow a sidewalk and block the remaining sidewalk with a huge snow bank. Even city crews do that with parking lots. Also, ticket those brain dead residents that walk 2 or 3 deep, wearing dark clothes at night and won't move for traffic. I nearly hit this woman standing in the street with all dark clothes on....Are people that stupid? Yes, I guess so. While were are at it go after those clowns that have to stand in the road on the driver side to talk....HELLO???? move your fat rump to the passenger side or get in the vehicle. There are clowns that think they are important with the little yellow light flashing away and will pull out in front of you thinking they have the right of way! Hello the yellow light just warns others that you don't know what you are doing! Some excepts to a few people that actually follow the law when plowing.
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Discobulous
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12-17-08 11:27 AM
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And maybe next summer they'll crack down on people who sweep cut grass into the gutters.
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