Sidewalk snow clearing could be expanded in south end and downtown

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In a report to council on Monday, public works director Courtney Clarke suggested hiring an additional staff member to increase the amount of urban sidewalks cleared of snow.

Clarke said that while the long-term goal is to plow and salt all sidewalks in town, that will depend on the results of the first operational season. She said it would take a year to determine the feasibility of expanding the service.

She said the additional full-time staffer would primarily work in the roads department in the winter with some assistance provided to parks and in the summer that would be reversed. Clarke said the employee would receive an annual wage of $74,360, with benefits and vacation pay of $30,284. On top of that, the township would have to buy a new sidewalk plow, which Clarke estimated would cost $80,000.

Despite the proposal for sidewalk clearing, Clarke said plowing roads would continue to be a priority,

She said if council approves, a new sidewalk plow route will be developed.

Noting that, during recent budget discussions, council discussed the possibility of generating revenue by offering sidewalk clearing to private property owners, Clarke said offering such a program would not be feasible.