JANUARY 2024.VOL. 24 NO. 01. PORTLAND, MAINE.
PORTLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. FREE!
Winter Storms May Challenge Clear your sidewalks or Portland Public Works Open positions for CDL drivers could lead to delays in clearing snow & ice By Tony Zeli
Sidewalk Snow Removal Regulations
A reminder of how bad it gets... City crews will work hard to plow Portland's streets despite a shortage of CDL drivers. -WEN file photos by Tony Zeli, Feb. 2015
get as much help via private contractors.”
“We’re doing everything we can to fill open positions,” said DPW Director Mike Murray. “We’ve hired an in-house CDL training instructor to train the non-CDL certified employees we’ve recently hired, but that process takes time. CDL drivers are highly sought after by both the public and private sector. The private sector is also experiencing this shortage and as such we’re not able to
By Tony Zeli Remember to clear your sidewalks, driveways, and curb cuts of snow and ice this winter. If not done properly and on time, there could be fines to pay. Although Portland’s parks and recreation department takes care of more than 100 miles of sidewalks around the city, it’s up to each property owner to maintain their own sidewalks.
With each winter storm, the Portland Department of Public Works (DPW) must plow and salt over 560 lane miles of road. This year, the responsibility will fall on fewer workers as the department deals with a shortage of CDL certified drivers. The City released a statement in December warning of labor shortages and possible delays. Public works said the combination of open positions for CDL drivers, employee leaves of absences, and a decrease in the number of private contractors and equipment may cause extended delays in clearing snow from city streets.
face a fine
City resident and former WEN contributor Rosanne Graef once went on a ride along with a city plow driver. She saw firsthand the complexity of the job. “The fellow I went with was very experienced and it was really enlightening to learn about all the things he was workers. Meanwhile, DPW asks for evobserving and having to keep in mind as eryone’s patience. we moved along. It’s not just about the “We’re sharing this information so foot of snow in front of the plow!” residents are aware in advance and we Graef said she worries that the cur- thank them for their patience this winrent shortage of drivers and any delays ter,” Murray said. will lead to complaints. Perhaps, she notAs of print, DPW had made no new ed, it is a good time to remember what the pandemic taught us about essential hires.
The City’s sidewalk snow removal ordinance requires residential owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks -WEN file photo abutting their property 18 hours following a winter storm or after the city’s snow removal operations are done, whichever is later. The same goes for business owners, but they only get 12 hours. Residential owners who fail to remove snow and ice within these time frames risk facing a $75 fine for the first offense, $125 for the second offense, and $250 for any subsequent offense within the same winter season. Additionally, should the city have to remove the snow and ice or arrange for its removal, the property owner will be charged for the cost of removal plus a 10% charge for administration. Business owners can be fined $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second, Cont'd on Pg. 3
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