Annapolis Royal, N.S., councillors reviewing snow, ice removal policy

Annapolis Royal is reviewing its snow and ice control policy, but it is likely not going to have much impact this winter.

Hutchins Pharmacy’s Danny McClair raised the issue at the Jan. 24 town council meeting.

“Is there a valid reason why the roads and sidewalks are not being plowed when everyone else, including the province and private contractors, are out clearing snow?” he wrote in a letter to the town. “Is it reasonable not to take care of the sidewalks in some of the busiest areas of our community?”

McClair said Annapolis Royal is an active town with an aging population. He noted 20 per cent of his customers use some type of mobility aid like a walker or cane. He said public works staff are working to the policy but asked if council thought it was time for it to be reviewed.

Ken Knox, the town’s director of municipal operations, said the policy has been pretty consistent since 2012. It generally doesn’t plow if there’s less than five centimetres of snow but there is some discretion within the policy.

“We’ll plow in less than five centimetres and that comes down to the nature of the weather conditions,” he said. “It’s always safety first.”

Knox said the town generally will plow and salt as needed during the regular business day.

“Now, if there’s a big storm or we have bigger accumulations, then the team comes in (after) hours and will plow and salt,” Knox said.

The director said staff did a scan of nearby municipalities and found the policies were similar.

Knox said he surveys the roads and sidewalks daily at 5 a.m. If the town has had a storm, he will let the chief administrative officer and police chief know what the department is doing.

Sidewalks

In the business district, from 324 St. George St. to the wharf, property owners have the responsibility for clearing the snow on the sidewalk in front of their buildings under the town’s streets and sidewalks bylaw.

“Some businesses are absolutely fantastic about shovelling and salting and they’re out at the crack of dawn getting that done,” Knox said. “Many have been remiss of late.”

He recently visited businesses and handed out letters as a reminder of the expectation based on the policy. He said it has made a difference.

The town still does plow the sidewalks. Knox said it would be the five-foot width of the plow as it is doing the sidewalks around town.

“It seems like an antiquated notion,” said Coun. Paul Wear. “You know at one point everyone was responsible for shovelling the road in front of their property. And it seems like this has just sort of carried over within the towns.”

Coun. Paula Hafting said she was running errands in the downtown on Jan. 20. She was shuffling her feet along the sidewalk as it felt slippery to her. She said people were struggling to get into the pharmacy and shops.

“They were very nervous because the sidewalks were snow covered,” she said. “To me, it felt like a hazard.

“It wasn’t a lot of snow, but it was enough to be slippery and at that point a sprinkling of salt would have really helped.”

Deferred decision

Mayor Amery Boyer said the town just received a report on its infrastructure that dealt with service standards and risk analysis and suggested it might be useful to review that and its snow and ice removal policy before making a decision.

“There’s a big difference between snow covered and clear in costs,” said Deputy Mayor Michael Tompkins. “I think that’s one of the decisions that will affect our policy on this.”

The issue will come back to the committee of the whole meeting on Feb. 7 with any changes being voted on at the council meeting on Feb. 21.

Knox said if dangerous spots are identified staff will address them.