When snow fell last week, Joseph and Duka Oswald – like so many others – went outside to shovel their driveway.
They also made sure – again, like many others – to clear their sidewalks.
“We do our best to keep it clean,” says Duka.
A few days later, the Oswalds were surprised to find themselves the recipients of a letter saying they had to do a better job within 24 hours – or face a $300 fine.
“When somebody says $300 to me, that is a lot of money,” says Joseph.
Duka says she’s surprised the city took issue with their sidewalks – saying they’d done the best they could.
“We weren’t able to take the lowest layer off the concrete, (but) it was walkable,” she says.
Several neighbours received the same notice.
While they may be upset, a city official says, the notice would only have been delivered in response to a complaint from another member of the public.
“We’re not out there proactively looking,” says Gloria MacNeil, Kitchener's supervisor of bylaw enforcement.
Twenty-four hours after the notice is delivered, city workers perform a second inspection – after which they can choose to levy a fine.
MacNeil says she understands the Oswalds’ concerns – and those of the person whose complaint prompted their notice.
“We do have people that are very upset because they’re not able to get down the sidewalks,” she says.
“When we do leave those notices, we in turn have those homeowners who are very upset.”
For seniors or people with mobility challenges, organizations like House of Friendship, Community Support Connections and The Working Centre offer programs that may be of assistance in clearing snow.
