If you’re the sort of person who likes to leave your sidewalk uncleared after a snowstorm, you might find yourself with some extra cash this winter.
Kitchener councillors debated the issued Monday, and decided not to ease up on the current rules – under which residents have 24 hours from the end of a snowfall event to clear their sidewalks to the pavement.
What has changed is the hiring of a private contractor to clear any sidewalks left snowy after 24 hours.
In past years, city workers had taken on that task.
City officials say the change means sidewalks should be cleared quicker, and that the initial bill for those who don’t clear them will fall from $345 to $280.
The lone vote against the change came from Coun. Paul Singh, who said he was concerned seniors could be penalized more often under the new rules.
“Instead of leniency, I saw more aggressive enforcement measures,” he said.
