Strike urges 'common sense' sidewalk sanding

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Desmond Devoy

EMC News - Carleton Place town Coun. Gary Strike would like to see some common sense used to help people navigate the town's icy sidewalks a little better.

Mayor Wendy LeBlanc, however, doesn't want to see a sanding-on-demand policy come about as an unintended consequence.

"It is our policy not to do all of the sidewalks in town," said Strike at the physical environment committee meeting on Feb. 7. "I think we should maintain all of the sidewalks in town ... I would like to be able to step outside of policy."

Strike said the issue was brought to his attention by an 85-year-old constituent who said it was very difficult for him to safely traverse the street on which he lived because the sidewalk was so icy.

"He was told that it (his street) was not on the list," said Strike. "Because it was policy not to sand his street, the answer was no. It's not staff's fault, they were following policy."

"That would be a safety issue," agreed Coun. Jerry Flynn.

Strike said he would like to see a policy where any resident could call the town with a complaint about an icy sidewalk that they felt was a health and safety hazard, and for town staff to then sand and/or salt the area within a reasonable amount of time, "rather than telling them that it is not our policy (to do so)," said Strike.

While Strike's fellow councillors felt for the 85-year-old complainant, they were also quick to defend staff.

"Any member of this community can call our staff up and tell them of conditions that are icy and dangerous," said Coun. Louis Antonakos. "I don't want there to be any question about that."

"We are a complaint-driven society," said Flynn. "People do not hesitate to complain."

Public works director Dave Young agreed that the weather conditions this winter have seen a lot more ice on sidewalks for a lot longer, and a lot earlier, than usual.

"This winter has been extremely difficult in terms of ice," agreed Young. "We do not winter maintain on all streets in town," He added this type of ice cover on streets is normally seen towards the end of winter, at the end of February, beginning of March.

This year, however, is "a prolonged condition. We've had more this winter than we have had in a long time."

"When you go outside of policy ... it doesn't take long for word to get out," said LeBlanc, who cautioned against going "so far outside of policy that you've created a new policy, of sanding on demand."

The town's chief administrative officer, Paul Knowles, pointed out sanding on demand would also create a new legal headache for the town.

"That creates, legally, not politically or morally, an obligation," said Knowles. "There is a real legal problem with just piece-mealing this," with the town facing possible litigation if the town sands a road one week but, with no follow-up complaints, does not sand it the next week, and a resident slips, that could leave the town open to legal action.

"If somebody slips and falls they will sue us anyway," said Strike.

Later on that evening, the town council voted in favour of reviewing the policy.

desmond.devoy@metroland.com