Poll: Who Should Shovel Sidewalks?

Who should shovel the sidewalks in town? The government? Or the private property owners?

Each community has its own method for dealing with snowy sidewalks. In Bristol, public works crews with special small snowplows clear all the downtown sidewalks. In Warren, town code says private property owners must clear the sidewalks in front of their properties – but many don’t.

Barrington passed a law Monday night increasing the fine for property owners who don’t clear their own sidewalks by 6 p.m. the day after a storm. Offenders can be fined $50 each time.

The City of Attleboro will clear the sidewalks in its downtown business district but expects property owners to clear all others. That became an issue last year when sidewalks remained buried after several big storms and the city had no sidewalk snow law.

What do you think? Should municipalities pay the bill to clear sidewalks or should the residents and business owners take responsibility?