SNOW EMERGENCY IN EFFECT @ 3PM SAT. FEB. 14TH UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

From: Robert K McCarthy

Councillor Ward One

 SNOW EMERGENCY IN EFFECT @ 3PM SAT. FEB. 14TH UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

The City of Salem has declared a SNOW EMERGENCY IN EFFECT @ 3:00 p.m., on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH. Please that you will be allowed to park in the downtown area on-street metered spaces until 10pm Saturday evening before ticketing and towing begins in that area. This snow emergency will remain in effect until further notice.

Please remember, during the Snow Emergency a parking ban is in effect, and vehicles must be totally removed from city streets and sidewalks or your vehicle will be ticketed and towed.

Also, please note that vehicles must be removed from public and private parking lots, particularly at schools, especially at the Bentley School and Nathaniel Bowditch School immediately following the cancellation of the snow emergency (weekends included) or your car will be towed.

(FYI: It is the policy of the DPS that snow removal will not take place in alternative parking areas, particularly at parks, until snow operations on city streets are completed. Please plan your vehicular needs accordingly.)

Thank you for your cooperation during this Snow Emergency.

Please consult the City of Salem's website www.salem.com, tune to SATV on your television or call the non-emergency snow information line at the police station at 978-744-0171 ext. 166 for information when the snow emergency parking ban will end.

For more information regarding Snow Emergency procedures please click here for a copy of the City of Salem Snow Brochure.

Trash & Recycling Pickup Information

Due to the Presidents’ Day holiday on Monday February 16^th, trash and recycling pickup will be on a one-day delay schedule this week.

The city appreciates everyone's effort to meet curbside collection requirements: please your trash and recycling placed at the curb, visible and accessible to the collection contractor, by 7 AM on the day of your collection. Doing so will minimize the amount of missed trash or recycling pick-ups. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

This delay in trash and recycling pick-up will not affect your compost pick-up-which will continue on your scheduled day. For a complete listing of the City’s holiday pick-up schedule, please log on to Salem.com/recycling.

Other Information

Please note that the Salem Public Schools and City Hall, the City Hall Annex at 120 Washington Street and the Council on Aging on Broad Street will also be closed on Monday for the Presidents' Day holiday.

 Other Important Snow Information:

SIDEWALKS

The removal of the snow and ice from sidewalks is greatly appreciated. This will help school children, the elderly, and the general public from having to walk in the street. The City of Salem clears designated sidewalks following each storm. It takes time to accomplish this task and it is only done after all the roads have been cleared.

There are city ordinances requiring property owners to remove snow and ice from their bordering sidewalks within six hours after the snow ceases to fall or the city's snow emergency lights are turned off, whichever time is later. ~If the snow ceases to fall and the snow emergency lights are turned off in the nighttime, the snow shall be removed before 12:00 noon. If he/she neglects to do so, he/she shall be fined $25 for 1st offense, $75 for 2nd offense and $100 for 3rd and subsequent offenses.

DRIVEWAYS

While the Department of Public Services tries to minimize the amount of snow that gets plowed across driveways and exits, it is unavoidable. Clearing driveway openings is the responsibility of the property owner.

Plow blades cannot be lifted as they pass by a driveway.

Unfortunately, snow will be plowed into driveways as we perform curb-to-curb plowing.

You may wish to clear your driveway several times during the storm or wait until the storm and plowing activities have ended.

~

Snowplowing, shoveling, or throwing snow back onto the street when clearing driveways and sidewalks is prohibited by City Ordinance and violators can be fined $75 for 1^st offense, $150 for 2^nd offense and $200 for 3^rd and subsequent offenses.

CATCH BASINS

Help us stop street flooding by shoveling out catch basins near your home.

FIRE HYDRANTS

There are many Fire Hydrants in the City of Salem. Please help us Keep Salem Safe by shoveling around the hydrant near your home.

ALTERNATIVE DESIGNATED PARKING AREAS

The City of Salem offers alternative designated parking areas that include the following:

Museum Place Parking Garage*

South Harbor Garage*

* During a snow emergency, parking in the city garages is $5/24 hours, or any fraction thereof. Vehicles should be removed from the garage by the close of business the day the snow emergency concludes. Vehicles left in the garage after that time will begin to accrue charges at the regular hourly parking rate.

Blaney Street Parking Lot (Salem Ferry Landing),

Forest River Park,

Gallows Hill lower,

Mack Park,

Broad Street Playground,

Castle Hill Playground,

Salem Willows Park,

the Bentley School Lot,

the Carlton School Lot,

the Witchcraft Heights School Lot,

the Bates School Lot,

the Saltonstall parking area on Salem Street only,

and the Collins Middle School - Jackson Street parking area.