Memo on Winter Regulations
1 page
From the meeting:
Regular Meeting — 2026-09-02
· our coverage →
Agenda item: Public Hearings — Public Hearing on Local Law Introductory No. 12 of 2026 to amend Chapter 197, Streets and Sidewalks, of the Village Code to update the list of sidewalks exempt from the duty to clear or make safe.
Retrieved 2026-08-31 from the village's meeting portal.
Also attached to this agenda item:
Local Law Introductory No. 12 of 2026 Update Sidewalk...
Memo on LL Intro 12 of 2026
Resolution 182-2026 LL Intro 12 of 2026 PH
Resolution 200-2026 LL Intro 12 of 2026 Adoption
Extracted text
To:
From:
Date:
June 19, 2026
Re:
Winter Parking & Sidewalk Regulations
After the blockbuster storms this past winter, I have taken time to discuss the feedback we received
on our existing parking and sidewalk regulations with Chief of Police John Nikitopoulos and DPW
Superintendent Frank Balbi.
As you may know, the Village’s prohibition on street parking once two inches or more of snow has
accumulated has existed in the Village since 1993. Prior to that time, street parking was completely
prohibited from November 20 to April 1 each year between 3 and 6 a.m. (similar to how some of our
neighboring communities continue to regulate winter parking). Two inches of snow is the set amount
as that is when snow plowing operations commence; snowfalls of lesser amounts are generally
handled by the use of salt. This regulation exists for a couple of reasons. Streets without vehicles
parked on them allow Dept. of Public Works crews to clear curb-to-curb in an efficient manner,
reducing the amount of time needed to clear the streets once a storm event has ended. Additionally,
having vehicles parked off the street allows clear passage for our emergency vehicles and other
essential workers.
In an effort to balance these valid reasons for regulating parking during snow events with the desire
to allow businesses to operate in smaller snow events, I am proposing that the Village Board amend
the existing law to allow parking in our business districts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on one side of the
street. During the nighttime period, on-street parking would continue to be prohibited to ensure DPW
crews can clear all roadways efficiently. Should a major storm impact our area, like the two blizzards
our area experienced this past winter, the Village Manager would be able to prohibit parking on street
during this time under a state of emergency declaration (when it is likely that most businesses would
be closed anyway).
As the Village has continued to build out our sidewalk network, the list of areas that DPW is
responsible for shoveling has continued to grow. It has become difficult for our in-house crews to
clear our sidewalks within the time window prescribed under the Village Code. I have met with
Superintendent Balbi and other key members of the DPW staff to review the full list of locations that
DPW presently clears. A number of these areas are adjacent to private property, the owners of which
are legally responsible for clearing their sidewalks under the Village Code. I plan to inform these
property owners that the responsibility for these sidewalks is being returned to them. Additionally, I
am recommending that Section 197-15(1) of the Village Code be modified to clarify the section of
sidewalk along Old Post Road South that is exempted from the shoveling requirements and add two
sections of Farrington Road to the list of exempted property due to the inability of property owners to
easily access these sidewalks.
Mayor
Brian Pugh
Trustees
Stacey Nachtaler
Nora Moriarty Nicholson
Len Simon
Maria F. Slippen
Village Manager
Bryan T. Healy
Village Treasurer
Genette Toone
Village Clerk
Pauline DiSanto
Village Engineer
Vincent Salanitro, P.E.
Machine-extracted for search and reference — the original PDF is the authoritative version.