Snow & Ice Removal

The City is committed to improving accessibility and walkability year-round. With Winter approaching we want to keep everyone informed on snow removal plans in Amesbury. Recent changes in City Code Chapter 400 “Streets and Sidewalks”, Chapter 400-5 “Snow Removal”, and Chapter 400-7 “Enforcement: Violations and Penalties” make public safety a priority.

Reference:

https://www.amesburyma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2996/2022-110-REVISED-Ordinance-to-Amend-Snow-Removal-City-Code-PDF

Everyone has a part to play in snow removal. Here is an overview of responsibilities:

DPW Responsibilities:

Every November, DPW will provide a snow and ice removal plan that includes sidewalk snow clearing routes. This plan will be listed on the city website.

Downtown Area

DPW and its contractors will clear sidewalks with a single path equal to the width of equipment within 24 hours of a storm.
DPW and its contractors will clear crosswalks within 24 hours of a storm.
DPW and its contractors will plow public parking lots to the best of their ability during a storm. Municipal lots are expected to be clear within 8hrs of a storms end.
Within 1-4 days of a storm ending, snow piles will be removed from public parking lots.*
Within 1-4 days of a storm ending, snow bankings on sidewalks will be removed.*

* If no further snow is predicted for the following 48 hours

City-Wide

DPW and its contractors will clear snow on all city streets.
DPW and its contractors will remove snow from crosswalks impacted by plowing within 24 hours of a storm.
DPW will provide a list of sidewalks that will be cleared in its Snow Removal Plan that will be posted on the city website. The “school sidewalks” will be cleared within 8 hours of a storm; other City owned sidewalks will be cleared within 24 hours of the storm. This list is subject to change, please reference posted list.

Downtown Property Owner Responsibility:

Assist with snow removal/cleanup and treat abutting sidewalks within 24 hours after snow ceases to fall. This applies to both snow and ice which falls from buildings as well as that which falls from the clouds.
No one should directly or indirectly, allow their property to be cleared of snow by pushing, plowing, removing, dumping, or unloading such snow upon any public or other way used for travel within the City. Downtown Property Owners shall keep pathways clear by depositing snow in banking.

* See Enforcement

City-Wide Property Owner Responsibilities:

Remove snow and treat abutting sidewalks within 24 hours after snow ceases to fall. This applies to both snow and ice which falls from buildings as well as that which falls from the clouds.
No one should directly or indirectly, allow their property to be cleared of snow by pushing, plowing, removing, dumping, or unloading such snow upon any public or other way used for travel within the City.

* See Enforcement.

* Enforcement:

Amesbury’s Public Works, Amesbury Police and Inspectional Services have the jurisdiction to administer fines for each violation for not complying with City Codes Chapter 400 “Streets and Sidewalks”, Chapter 400-5 “Snow Removal”, and Chapter 400-7 “Enforcement: Violations and Penalties”. There is a $25 fine for the first offence and a $50 fine for each subsequential offence.

Each day a violation continues constitutes a separate offence.

Communication:

Amesbury will continue to utilize Swift-911 to send out snow emergency communications. We encourage everyone to sign up to receive alerts about road closures, parking bans and updated recommendations as it relates to snow emergencies.
Snow Emergencies will also be posted on the city website, on the top of the homepage.
The City of Amesbury Facebook page will also be used for updated information.
Blue lights are located at the corners of 1) Main St, Sparhawk St, and School St 2) Main St and Aubin St, Town Hall parking lot, and in front of the Fire Station on School Street. These will be turned on throughout the city indicating a snow emergency and no on-street parking or parking in public lots without a sticker throughout Amesbury.

https://www.amesburyma.gov/221/Swift911

Assistance:

For those requiring assistance with snow clearing and sidewalk treatment, the Council on Aging in collaboration with local organizations will annually prepare lists of persons available to provide snow clearing assistance either for a fee or on a volunteer basis. This list will be referenced as part of the Snow Removal Plan.

Downtown Resident Winter Public Parking:

Downtown residents are reminded to get their Winter Parking Sticker. Stickers are free of charge and can be obtained by filling out the form on the city website at: https://www.amesburyma.gov/357/Parking
Parking is available in the public lots on Water Street, Friend Street and at Lake Gardner during a snow emergency.
2022-2023 Winter Parking Maps

Reporting Icy and Snowy Road Issues After a Storm

During regular business hours: Call DPW at 978-388-8116. Regular business hours are Monday-Friday, 7:00am to 3:00pm.

After regular business hours: Call Amesbury Police at the NON-EMERGENCY number at: 978-388-1217. For emergency response only, please call 911.

Reporting Residential Sidewalk Issues After a Storm

To report an issue about snow and ice removal on residential sidewalks, please email: clearsidewalks@amesburyma.gov

Please note that residents have 24hrs after a storms conclusion to clear and treat sidewalks. This email is not monitored 24hrs and will be addressed during regular business hours.

Please do not use SeeClickFix to report snow related issues besides plow damage.

2022 Snow and Ice Plan

As required by City Code 400 - 5E, the Director of Public Works will post the Snow and Ice Plan in November that will include sidewalk clearing routes.Click here to view the 2022 Snow and Ice Plan

Trash & Recycle Collection During Storms

White trash bags are hard to see in the snow. Please use black bags whenever possible.
Residents must shovel out an area of snow for recycling and trash containers to be collected. Haulers will not jump over snow banks and barrels should not be placed in the street.
Collection will take place during snow storms. If they do not pick-up on your regular day, they will get to it the next day. When in doubt leave it out!!
Thank you for your cooperation. After hours calls for any emergencies after 3 pm, please call the police department at 978-388-1217 to have personnel paged.
Response time is usually one hour from call/notification.

When in doubt, leave it out!

City of Amesbury Ordinance - 17.5 Snow Removal

17.5.1 The Director of Public Works or his agent, for the purpose of removing or plowing snow, or removing ice from any way, authorized to remove any vehicle interfering with such work to some convenient place, which term shall include a public garage, and the owner of any vehicle so removed, shall be liable for the cost of such removal and the storage charges, if any, resulting therefrom.

17.5.2 No person shall push, dump, plow, or unload snow from private property into or onto any public way in town nor shall any person, directly or indirectly, cause or permit his premises, or any part thereof to be cleared of snow by pushing, plowing, removing, dumping, or unloading such snow upon any public or other way used for travel within the town.

17.5.3 No person shall put or place any snow, ice, or other materials in any gutter in any of the streets or the Town where a culvert has been constructed so as to prevent the free passage of water into such culvert.

17.5.4 The tenant or occupant, and in case there shall be no tenant or occupant, the owner or any person having the care of any building or lot of land bordering on any street, lane, court, square, or public place, within the Town, where there is a sidewalk, shall cause all snow that may be on such sidewalk to be removed therefrom within 24 hours after the snow ceases to fall. The provisions of this section shall apply to snow which falls from buildings as well as to that which falls from the clouds.