Sidewalk snow removal

by Chief Steven J. Wojnar
Dudley Police Department

With the heavy snow and other bad weather in our area, I wanted to take this opportunity to once again remind residents of the sidewalk snow removal procedures.  This is always a hot topic of conversation with many people.  It is especially true when we have measurable snowfall events.   I wanted to provide everyone with a reminder on this important issue.

Each community should have local by-laws or ordinances addressing this subject.  In the Town of Dudley, Article Eight Section Four is the by-law covering this situation.  This law requires every owner, tenant, or occupant of a building abutting a finished sidewalk, to keep the area free from many substances, including snow and ice.  These areas should be cleared during the period when the snow plows have completed the major removal of snow during a storm and before the slush/snow has the opportunity to freeze and become ice.  As a general rule, some time within twenty-four hours after a storm's ends is the prime opportunity to perform this task.  Penalties for a failure to clear sidewalks can be twenty dollars per day.

It is important for the local property owners to perform this task.  The general public, including school children, use these sidewalks every day.  By providing free and clear paths along the roadside, we can limit the number of pedestrians on the roads and hopefully limit the risk of accidents or injuries.

For those residents who are elderly or disabled and unable to clear these areas, the Dudley Leo's Club, the junior organization of the Dudley Lions Club, has in the past volunteered to shovel these areas free of charge.  For further information, I encourage people to contact me at the station.  I thank the LEO’s once again for all their dedicated service to the community.

If you are a Dudley resident and have not signed on to the “CodeRed” Emergency phone notification system, please take the time to register.  We have begun to utilize this reverse 911 calling system to quickly notify residents of important information in the event of an emergency.  A test call was placed this past week to those phone services which are contained in our local database.  If you received this test call, that particular phone number is registered in the system.  There is no need for you to take any further action at this time.  If you did not receive notification, or if you have a cell phone or secondary number, you will need to sign up in order to insure you receive emergency notices.  You may log on to www.dudleyma.gov and look for the “CodeRed” link on the site.  If you do not have internet access, or if you are having issues with the system, please contact the Dudley Fire Department at 508-949-8040.  Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for your questions and comments.  Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St. Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen.