As you know, I was planning to address the last area of goals set for this year. However, something of much more importance has arisen so I will address the last goal next week.
Winter has arrived … with a roar! And with it, Public Works and our drivers have asked that I remind residents of a few things that none of us have been thinking about for months. Winter weather conditions present several challenges that don’t exist at other times of the year. This past weekend was a particularly severe one with the frequency and intensity of storms. Our Public Works and Parks & Recreation crews work tirelessly to keeps roads and sidewalks safe for all, but this is a community effort and your help is needed.
Most importantly – if you have children, please make sure that they’re not playing on roadside snow banks as the drivers are plowing. Although they make an attractive recreation area, drivers may not see the children in the banks, especially if it is still snowing. Also, creating tunnels or caves in snow banks can be very dangerous as they can collapse or may get covered by additional snow being thrown from the road.
As in past years and per the Town’s “Snow and Ice Control Plan,” the Town will strive to keep Town-maintained roads in a reasonably safe condition for travelers. At the same time, we ask that travelers demonstrate due care and reasonable caution. Please remember that although the roads may look bare, with the low temperatures and ongoing precipitation of varied types caution is still needed. You can find the “Snow and Ice Control Plan” in the Public Works section of the Town website (www.colchesterct.gov) or at the Public Works’ or Town Clerk’s offices.
Also found in the plan are the procedures for mailboxes. The following is directly from that plan: “Postal regulations dictate the location of mailboxes and posts in close proximity to the edge of pavement within the Town right of way. This right of way is also the Town’s snow shelf thereby creating a conflict when the two try to occupy the same space. Generally, the snow will win the battle and inevitably, mailboxes and posts may get damaged. All efforts shall be made by each operator to avoid damage to mailboxes and posts. However, should damage occur, the driver shall report the incident to the Supervisor and shall be responsible for restoring the box to the post or providing a replacement post and/or box. Any aggrieved individual should be directed to contact the Public Works
Department who will investigate the incident and determine if compensation is warranted. It is the practice of the Town of Colchester to provide a replacement mailbox and/or post if it is determined the damage resulted from the town’s snow and ice control operations. However, the Town is under no obligation to install such replacement materials, nor is the Town under any obligation to provide a replacement in kind to the damaged materials. In addition, residents are encouraged to take all necessary precautions to protect their mailbox and post while not creating a road hazard.”
Please remember that in cases of snowfall exceeding one-half (1/2) inch, Town ordinances put a parking ban into effect on all Town streets for 12 hours after the cessation of the snowfall. Vehicles parked in violation of this ordinance may have their vehicles towed at the owner’s expense.
Additionally, Town ordinances require that all businesses and homeowners maintain sidewalks abutting your property, keeping them free and clear from obstructions including snow and ice. Property owners have up to 24 hours from the end of the storm to clear sidewalks. Violators of these ordinances can result in fines of up to $100 per day.
Please remember when putting trash containers out for collection to place them in your driveway or off the road. Containers placed in the road are an obstruction during plowing activities and sometimes are not visible at all times of the day or night.
And finally, if you have a roadside basketball hoops, please move it well off the road during this season. The Town is responsible for clearing snow back to the curb or edge of the pavement. Basketball hoops that extend near the edge of the pavement can be struck by side mirrors causing damage to both the truck and the pole.
Thank you for working with our crews to keep our residents and visitors safe and our Town’s streets and sidewalks useable and safe during the coming months. I hope you all have wonderful holidays and I wish you a happy and healthy new year.
Previous Selectman Notes can be viewed at
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