The purpose of this article is to establish the policy and level of
service with respect to the clearance of snow or ice and the maintenance of
the Pound Ridge road system during the winter months. For the purpose of this
article, "winter months" will be defined as that period of time between November
1 and April 15 of any calendar year.
Clearance of snow or ice and maintenance of the road system during the
winter months is primarily for the benefit of local residents of the Town
of Pound Ridge. Each storm has individual characteristics and must be dealt
with accordingly. The portion of the roadway improved for travel will have
upon it from time to time snow and/or ice in loose to compacted conditions.
These conditions may be continuous, or they may be more concentrated on hills,
in valleys, curves, protected or environmentally sensitive areas and/or intersections.
The entire width of a roadway may not be cleared of all snow, ice, compacted
snow or ice, or frost. Snow cleared from that part of the roadway improved
for travel shall be placed on or in the adjacent shoulder, ditch, or right-of-way.
Snow can be expected to accumulate adjacent to the traveled portion of the
roadway to the extent that a motorist's sight distance to both left and
right may be reduced or impaired. Snow removed from intersections may be placed
in the intersection corners in piles of unequal height. Visibility of motorists
may be reduced or impaired when approaching these intersections. The Town
of Pound Ridge shall not be responsible for snow pushed or otherwise placed
on the roadway or shoulders by others. Motorists shall drive their vehicles
during these conditions with additional caution and watchfulness, especially
with respect to the surface of the roadway and to reduced or impaired visibility.
During these conditions, no additional warning or regulatory signs will be
placed warning of impaired sight distances, visibility, or that the road surface
is slick or slippery, or what the advised speed would be. Road signs indicating
areas of environmental sensitivity will be placed to advise of areas of reduced
salt usage. It is not the policy of the Town of Pound Ridge to provide a dry
or clear and wet pavement conditions during times of snow or ice buildup on
the public roadways.
Snow removal operations may result in the snow being deposited in entrances
to private roads or drives. The Town of Pound Ridge shall not be responsible
for removing such deposits nor for any snow removal operations with respect
to private drives, roads and entrances. Snow removed from private drives,
roadways and entrances shall not be placed on the traveled portion of any
roadway.
The Town of Pound Ridge shall establish no time limit before, during
or after a snowstorm, for any snow removal and ice control operations. This
will be accomplished as rapidly as weather and other constraints allow, with
no commitment, either expressed or implied, to have any single operation or
combination of operations accomplished within a particular time period.
The sequences and level of service during snow and /or ice removal operations
may be superseded from time to time during emergency conditions. An emergency
condition shall be considered as one where loss of human life is probable,
a serious injury or illness has occurred which requires immediate medical
attention or the extensive loss of property is imminent. These emergency requests
shall normally come from the Fire Department, Police Department, Ambulance
Corps or other emergency service and will be honored immediately. Emergency
request from individuals should be verified as such and once confirmed, shall
be honored. Out of ordinary requests may be considered from time-to-time for
nonemergency situations.
The Town's obligation to remove snow and ice from roadways takes
precedence over accidental damage to privately owned fences, gates, vehicles
or mailboxes. Reasonable care will be used to avoid damage to private property;
but due to conditions of winter, the Town assumes no liability in the event
of damage unless it can be established that operator negligence was the primary
reason for the damage.
This article was enacted to facilitate snow and ice removal from public
highways in the Town of Pound Ridge. Vehicles that are parked or block the
streets, intersections or culs-de-sac hinder snow removal and delay the clearing
and opening of roadways. The Pound Ridge Police Department, the New York State
Police, and the Pound Ridge Highway Department have the power to cause removal
of any vehicle left unattended, parked or abandoned on any public highway
or on the right-of-way of any public highway during a time of snow and/or
ice removal. While attempts will be made to contact the owners/operators of
such vehicles, the Town shall have authority to remove any vehicle that hinders
the snow removal process on public highways or in the parking districts of
the Town of Pound Ridge. Vehicles towed in accordance with this section shall
be stored on the premises of the towing service and shall be restored to the
owner or operator of such vehicle upon payment by the owner or operator to
the towing service for any fees related to the towing and storage of said
vehicle.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article, upon conviction,
shall be punished by a fine of no less than $25 for the first offense and
$100 for any subsequent offenses.