After a good Vermont snowfall, Woodstock requires homeowners to clear the snow from their sidewalks. Village Trustees Tuesday night clarified the ordinance about snow removal. The ordinance now reads:
a) Owners of property abutting a Village sidewalk shall cause said sidewalk to be cleared of accumulated snow or ice otherwise rendered safe for pedestrian traffic to a minimum width of three feet within 24 hours of such accumulation.
b) The Village may cause any sidewalk or portion thereof to be cleared of accumulated snow or ice or otherwise rendered safe for pedestrian traffic, if, after 24 hours of such accumulation, any snow or ice has not been cleared or maintained as required in section (a) of this section, in which event the Village shall have the right to recover its actual expenses incurred for snow and ice removal and/or maintenance, by action or contract of this subsection. Nothing in this ordinance shall preclude the Village, acting by and through its police department, from giving property owners warnings of the impending 24 hour enforcement timeline.
Wow. That’s a lot of legal-ese, isn’t it? I think this means we’ll be charged for Village snow removal if we don’t get rid of the snow ourselves with 24 hours.
Still a subject of controversy as I know many Village residents would like to have Village crews remove snow from our sidewalks routinely as is done in other communities. It’s often jarring to see the Woodstock Inn’s sidewalks cleared only to run into post-holed snowy sidewalks elsewhere.
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 
Posted by Bill Luth on August 10, 2011 at 08:37
The woodstock Inns walks are often NOT the first walkways to be cleared of snow.
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Posted by Julia Carlisle on August 10, 2011 at 08:45
Good to know. Thanks for the comment. I havent’ completely followed snow removal in a year or so as I was out of town for last winter’s pile-up!
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Posted by Bob Pear on August 10, 2011 at 21:27
The only change in the ordinance is the last sentence- “Nothing in this ordinance shall preclude the Village, acting by and through its police department, from giving property owners warnings of the impending 24 hour enforcement timeline”. The intent is to be able to remind the property owners that continually neglect to clear their walks that they must do so in the interest of public safety. If the notice was ignored, this would then allow the sidewalks to legally be cleared on behalf of the Village on the 25th hour for public safety at the property owners expense.
I would like to add that in case anybody got the wrong impression, the Woodstock Inn clears their own walks and they do a great job.
I would also welcome the discussion of municipal removal of snow from our Village sidewalks-personally, I don’t mind shoveling my walk, but for many that are not physically able, it is a financial burden.
The next Trustees meeting is Sept 8 at 7PM. You can also Email us at VillageTrustees@townofwoodstock.org
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Posted by Julia Carlisle on August 11, 2011 at 09:29
Thanks Bob for responding and giving your contact info! Early Birds appreciate it. 🙂
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Posted by Bob Pear on August 15, 2011 at 16:56
You’re welcome! I got the next meeting date wrong- it is Tues, Sept 13 @ 7PM.
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