Town Administrator Mel Kleckner and Commissioner of Public Works Erin Chute Gallentine report the Town of Brookline has declared a snow emergency parking ban in anticipation of a potentially powerful Nor’easter forecast for Saturday.
The Brookline Emergency Management team, which includes the Department of Public Works, Police, and Fire Services, are preparing for a storm forecast to potentially bring heavy snow, strong wind gusts and possibly even blizzard conditions to the area on Saturday.
The parking ban will take effect beginning Saturday at 06:00 a.m. The end time of the parking ban will be determined late in the day on Sunday, January 30, 2022 and will be posted on the Town’s website www.brooklinema.gov. During a snow emergency parking ban, no on-street parking is permitted in town. All unauthorized vehicles remaining on the street or in public parking lots will be subject to ticketing and towing.
As snow removal operations ramp up on Saturday, plow crews will prioritize main arterial roadways and clearing a path for emergency vehicles before focusing on neighborhood roads, schools and public buildings.
“If snow is as heavy as some forecasts have predicted, it will take a significant amount of time and effort to clear roads, sidewalks, stairs and paths, so we ask residents and businesses to be patient and to do their part to help our community dig out,” said Commissioner Gallentine. “We will get through this storm more safely and more quickly if we all pitch in.”
The Town of Brookline requires property owners to keep sidewalks contiguous to their property in a non-slippery condition for pedestrian travel by clearing all ice and snow from a pathway at least 36 inches in width.
Residences with less than four family units must comply with the sidewalk clearing bylaws within 30 hours of a storm’s end. Commercial properties and multi-family properties with more than four units must comply within three hours of a storm’s end. Failure to comply can lead to a notice from the town, or fines ranging from $100 to $250 per day.
If you own a property or business in town, please remember to:
- Maintain all sidewalks abutting your property or business in a non-slippery condition free of ice and snow.
- If you are out of town, or are unable to clear ice and snow due to physical limitations, please be sure to have someone else prepared to maintain the sidewalk for you.
- Clear openings at intersections and crosswalks so pedestrians can cross safely.
- Always have a supply of ice-melt (CaCl2 or KCL) on hand and apply frequently after a storm and during the winter season to prevent snow from packing down and forming ice.
- Whenever possible, please help to assist your Public Safety Departments by clearing catch basins and snow-covered fire hydrants adjacent to your property.
The Town of Brookline would also like to advise residents that in order to keep trash and recycling collection running smoothly through the snow season, residents are asked to take the following steps:
- shovel a path for recycling and waste carts;
- make sure carts are clear of snow and ice;
- place carts close to the street as they will not be picked up behind snowbanks;
- leave a 4-inch space on either side of the recycling and waste carts to provide easy access for the trucks’ automated arms;
- loose recycling and waste will not be picked up unless placed in the recycling and waste carts.
“I hope everyone in Brookline stays safe during this potentially powerful storm, and I encourage everyone to stay off the roads on Saturday if possible, to help our plow crews clear and maintain streets as quickly as possible,” said Town Administrator Kleckner. “I also encourage all Brookline residents to sign up for our emergency alerts program to stay informed even in severe conditions.”
To sign up for emergency alerts from the Town of Brookline by telephone, e-mail or text messaging, please visit here.
