Let It Snow - But Then Clean Up

Once again Brothers Pizza wins the prize for doing the best job clearing snow in front of their shop. They do this for both "regular" snow storm and monsters like last week's. I'll make it a point to spend extra money with them just for this.

Local businesses ask what they can do to attract more people from chain stores? This is one thing - make it more of a pleasure and a convenience to shop there, and snow removal is one such thing. I wish others could do the same, whether as individuals (yes, impractical) or collectively, through some kind of fees.

Residential snow shoveling is always a mixed bag. Belmont has no snow-removal by-law, unlike (I think) most towns in the inner suburbs. Arguments against always include little old ladies who can't possibly do this themselves. That then moves into a discussion about organizing volunteers. Arguments in favor of such rules usually lead off with safety, especially that of kids.

Long-time residents often lament the demise of the town service of plowing sidewalks; Belmont only does sidewalks near town property and schools. I find that the plow does a mediocre job, often leaving a couple inches (try walking up Common St), and it does not fit everywhere.

I find myself on the uber strict side. It is a responsibility of property owners to properly maintain their assets that affect the public, period. If you bought a house on a well-travel walking route, you are obligated to at least try to make it safe. That school did not magically appear, you knew it was a block away. If you are on Payson Rd, you already know that dozens of kids walk by your house twice a day, every day.

I don't really think it's the little old ladies who are the problem. It's the fully-able people who can clear their driveways and path from the door to the SUV and then skip the additional 10% effort to make a narrow path for the neighborhood.

Beyond messages about clearing around fire plugs after any major snowfall, I never notice anything out of Town Hall asking for people to step up. Friendly, yet firm, reminders could help, at least a little.

Is it time for a snow removal by-law? The peer pressure of seeing 9 out of 10 neighbors do the right thing seems to not work. How to manage it? Fines? Give police discretion about enforcement? There are quite a few streets where it really does not matter - those with no high-demand place to go, and it is pretty safe to walk in the street. But there are many places where keeping things clear is imperative, like White, School, Goden, and Cross Streets. Can a by-law be fair by saying some walkways must be clear, while others not so much? Would "on-demand" enforcement (only react to complaints) in less busy areas work? It would at least be a lively discussion at Town Meeting.

Did I mention Brothers Pizza did a great job?