The Westfield News needs a new disclaimer for the ridiculous ramblings of “Erika…”. “Erika Hayden is a WSU student, citizen journalist and grassroots (sic) writer.” The standard disclaimer of “Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of this publication.” (I can understand this one, I am embarrassed for her as well) needs to be revised to read “Warning: you have just been subjected to reading the ramblings of an individual who is trying to inflame our readership and denigrate law enforcement. Any resemblance to actual occurrences with her views is purely coincidental.” Couldn’t you replace her “column” with an ad for your new coffee shop? Please? If there ever was a perfect candidate for the Citizens Police Academy, she is the one. Ms. Hayden has volunteered to submit content to us and it may contain differing opinions from some of our readers but creating a dialogue of different ideas is what makes this country great. We encourage all of you to participate by sending us your thoughts.
I would like to inquire about the City Ordinance that requires home and property owners to remove snow and ice from their sidewalks after a snow storm. My child’s bus stop is at the corner of King Street and Chestnut Street and it is covered in snow and ice. It is unsafe for anyone, especially children. My child fell twice on the same morning before I made the decision to drive her myself until the issue is resolved. I am fortunate that I can drive my daughter to school, but there are families who are risking slips and falls twice a day. Aren’t property owners supposed to remove snow or at least salt or sand when there are dangerous conditions? Who’s responsible for bus stops that are not cleared? Are these property owners held accountable for violating this ordinance? A city ordinance (16-14) requires that the “tenant, occupant or owner” of property abutting a public sidewalk “remove or cause to be removed such snow, sleet or ice” covering a sidewalk “within 24 hours after any snow, sleet or ice ahs stopped falling, forming or drifting.” If the snow, sleet or ice cannot be “wholly” removed the ordinance allows it to be sprinkled with “sand, sawdust of another suitable substance so that the sidewalk shall not be slippery.” The ordinance doesn’t specify how or who determines when has precipitation has stopped. Police in Westfield, on their own initiative or in response to a complaint, will visit residences and businesses with obstructed sidewalks and usually issue a warning but may write a $25 city ordinance violation citation or issue a criminal complaint citing MGL Chapter 85 Section 5. The problem is exacerbated when an address is vacant as the actual owner can be difficult to determine let alone contact and may be a factor in the specific complaint regarding the sidewalk the intersection of King and Chestnut streets were the bus stop is. The bus, of course, does not stop on the sidewalk but stops in the street where children, who have been waiting wherever they choose, board it. A search of the police log reveals that there have been two recent complaints regarding snow and ice on the sidewalk at the intersection. The officer responding to the first call (Jan. 8, 3 p.m.) reports that the sidewalk had a “dusting” of snow which was not deemed to be a significant hazard to children while in the other call (Jan. 9, 2:14 p.m.), the responding officer pointed out that the 24 hour period allowed for snow removal had not expired.
