Town chief operating officer (COO) Doug Wagstaff got an earful about snow-clearing from members of the Uptowne Olds Committee (UOC).
The discussion, held during a committee meeting last week, lasted about 16 minutes.
Wagstaff said he'll take the concerns to fellow COO Scott Chant who looks after public works, etc.
Concerns were primarily voiced by UOC chair Leon Durand and committee member Brian Thompson.
They said customers are having trouble getting into Uptowne stores due to snow in parking areas and big snowbanks.
“One lady was telling us that she had to help out seniors and they literally can't negotiate the snowbanks on the sides,” Durand said. “She had to keep taking people out -- leave her business and help them get to their vehicles.”
Durand and Thompson said they and other business owners are very concerned about the problem because some customers have indicated that if it's too difficult to get into stores and in and out of parking stalls in Uptowne, they'll simply go to other communities to shop where the parking etc. is easier.
“One lady said the plows go down the street but they've got the shovel lifted. If they're going to drive down there, just lower it down and push it,” Durand said.
Thompson said at least one store owner told him businesses are not allowed to push snow from sidewalks on to the street and if they do that, they can be ticketed.
Paul Gustafson of Shoppers Drug Mart said he's been able to solve the problem – it's pushed into his parking lot and behind the store.
“We don't have parking lots. Do we push it into our stores? We can't carry it,” Durand said.
Thompson suggested if business owners could push the snow into the street, then a town plow could come along and clear it.
“They're going to clear the roads anyway,” he said.
Durand agreed with that idea.
“Why don't you just hire somebody to do it like I do,” Gustafson asked. “It's a burden for one business, but it'll cost you half of what it cost me to clear my parking lot for every business on your block to have somebody clear it and then just sacrifice one parking spot; just move it down the street.
“Every time it snows, the town's going to clear it eventually move it to the next parking stall. So eventually, everybody's going to sacrifice one parking spot in front of your business. It's a small sacrifice to have your businesses clear, have all of the snow off the street where people park, and have no mound.
“Because right now, if you push it on to the street, especially after every snowfall, somebody has to climb a mountain. Even if they're not elderly, to climb a mountain to get on your sidewalks (is awkward and dangerous). They can't get there anyway,” he said.
Clearing snow from the front of your business so customers can park and get into your establishment is just part of doing business, Gustafson indicated.
“The town's not necessarily responsible for that. The town priority is the town priority,” he said. “It's your business; you own your business, you're responsible for getting people in your door. I would just manage it on your own.”
He suggested businesses could cut the cost by sharing it with other businesses.
“It's like $100 a business, but not everybody wants to do that; spend $100 a month,” Durand said.
“It's a hell of a lot less than I pay,” Gustafson replied.
