To the Editor: Town of Dartmouth Town Meeting, Article 15 -Sidewalk snow removal
Oct 06, 2026
Dear Dartmouth Town Meeting Members:
The sidewalk snow removal article at the Spring Town meeting that was tabled until the Fall meeting caused us angst all summer. Thank you for tabling it. On October 20, 2026, it will appear as Article 15.
The 1947 post-war bylaw, which specifies that abutters of hard surface sidewalks should clear snow as soon as snow ceases to fall, strikes us as a guideline for being a good Town neighbor. No fine was attached to it. In 2011 a fine of $25, to be enforced by the Police Department, was passed.
Town Meeting Members will be asked to approve new fines for failure to clear sidewalks within a calendar day of a snow fall ceasing. Besides the first fine of $25 a new fine of $25 will be imposed every calendar day thereafter. However, for commercial properties and residents living within one mile of a public school (including UMass Dartmouth) the first fine is $300 and $300 for every calendar day thereafter.
The new fine of $300 is unreasonably punitive. Something less excessive ($100?) and only one more fine after three more days is more appropriate.
A higher fine is understandable for abutters living within one mile of Town of Dartmouth public schools for the safety of our children walking to school. But to include UMass Dartmouth is inappropriate. UMD students are adults, and those who don't reside on campus drive to school or take the bus.
If an abutter living within one mile of a Dartmouth public school is unable to clear the snow from the sidewalk in a day, the Town should help. The sidewalks and frontage areas fall under the control of the Town. The Town periodically cuts weeds and trims vegetation along road frontage to make it safer for drivers. Why not have the Town clear the sidewalks in such cases for a reasonable fee?
Further, it would help if the Town provided a list of contractors who would clear snow from sidewalks for a reasonable price.
We live within a mile of UMD on Old Westport Road where the zoning frontage is 150 feet. Our frontage is 175 feet. Finding someone to clear our sidewalk is nearly impossible. We contract to have our driveway plowed, but they can't plow the sidewalk with their plow truck. Different equipment is needed. The first priority of snow clearing contractors is their commercial clients. Residential clients are understandably secondary.
Under the stress of $300+ fines, senior citizens would feel compelled to clear the sidewalk themselves risking possible heart attacks.
Further, this proposed bylaw should be suspended for a snowfall of over 24 inches. After the last bad snowfall we had, we couldn't get anyone to clear our driveway for three days. By then the snow on the sidewalk was packed solid from plows clearing the road.
In summary, please:
1. Reject these new fines. Failing that,
2. Reduce the $300 fine to $100 and eliminate the daily fines thereafter.
3. Define public schools as Town of Dartmouth public schools.
Thank you,
Richard and Ann Ibara
North Dartmouth
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