Committee Report - Leg Matters - 2-25-15 — File 198519

Legislative Matters Committee Page 1 of 2 Printed 2/26/2015 February 25, 2015 REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE MATTERS COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Mary Jo Rossetti Chair Present Mark Niedergang Vice Chair Present Katjana Ballantyne Ward Seven Alderman Present Matthew McLaughlin Ward One Alderman Present William A. White Jr. Alderman At Large Present Tony Lafuente Ward Four Alderman Present Maryann M. Heuston Ward Two Alderman Present Robert J. McWatters Ward Three Alderman Present John M. Connolly Alderman At Large Present Rebekah L. Gewirtz Ward Six Alderman Absent Dennis M. Sullivan Alderman At Large Present 1. Public Hearing regarding Snow Removal Regulations Chairman Rossetti provided some background on this item and spoke about the desire to hold businesses to a higher standard, the city’s legal authority to hold the MBTA accountable for bus stops and the city’s responsibilities under the ADA. Several members of the public spoke on this matter and discussed their concerns. The list of complaints included: snow on side streets not being cleared, snow at street corners reducing traffic visibility, parking problems and the emergency parking rules, sidewalks and driveways repeatedly being covered with snow by city/contracted plows, the impact of un-cleared sidewalks on the disabled, shoveling problems experienced by the elderly and some city-owned properties not having cleared sidewalks. Several suggestions were made, including: pro-active plowing by the city, plowing closer to curbs, assistance from the city with finding individuals/contractors to assist residents with clearing snow, the ability to reserve parking spots by those who have cleared them, additional enforcement, fining owner occupied properties at a higher rate, alternating street parking every year and publishing a list of violators. There was also disagreement among the speakers on the time frame for clearing sidewalks

Legislative Matters Committee Page 2 of 2 Printed 2/26/2015 and on whether imposing fines was necessary. The record will remain open until 6:00 PM on March 5, 2015 to receive any additional written comments. 198318: That this Board discuss an amendment to the Snow Ordinance as it relates to the time frame for clearing sidewalks following a storm. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 198319: That this Board conduct a public hearing on the new snow removal regulations to solicit feedback and suggestions from the public. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED