A couple items that Borough residents need to be aware of for any future snow accumulations regarding snow emergencies, handicap sidewalk areas, keeping snow off of streets, plowing business parking lots:
Snow Emergencies:
When the winter storm warning or heavy snow warning is issued by the National Weather Service Canton Borough is automatically in a snow emergency. During a snow emergency for Canton Borough, the following applies:
Regulations and Restrictions:
The following regulations shall apply during snow emergencies:
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to park a vehicle or to allow the same to remain parked on any permanent snow emergency street or on any temporary emergency street posted as such. The fine shall be $25 for each twenty-four hour period the vehicle is in violation.
B. Any vehicle that shall become stalled, incapable of moving under its own power or left unattended upon any traffic lane of any snow emergency street shall be deemed to be operated and/or parked in violation of this article, and the owner or operator of such vehicle shall be guilty of a violation of this article.
C. Borough authorities may remove, by any means authorized by law, any vehicle parked in violation of this article or stalled or otherwise inoperative upon any snow emergency street, as herein prohibited, which is constituting an extreme hazard to public safety and/or which jeopardizes the orderly performance of snow emergency functions by the Borough’s Street Department.
Snow Emergency
Routes Designated:
A. The streets or parts of streets described below are hereby designated as permanent snow emergency streets.
B. Temporary snow emergency streets shall be designated by the Emergency Management Coordinator and/or Mayor and/or Council President any time during a snow emergency by announcement over local radio stations and by posting with temporary signs, such temporary snow emergency streets to have such temporary emergency status beginning 24 hours after the applicable radio announcement or 24 hours after the posting thereof, whichever shall be later.
Street
Fassett Street Entire length/both sides
North Washington Street Entire length/both sides
North Minnequa Avenue Entire length/both sides
Lycoming Street Entire length/both sides
East Tioga Street Entire length/both sides
High Street Entire length/both sides
McIntosh Lane Entire length/both sides
Clinton Street Entire length/both sides
The snow emergency can be extended by the Borough’s Mayor, Council President and/or Emergency Management Coordinator.
Temporary snow emergency streets may also be designated and would be announced over the local radio station and signs would be posted.
Handicap Sidewalk Entrances
It is the property owners’ responsibility to keep the handicap intersection of sidewalks clear where they meet the crosswalks.
Keeping Snow Off of Streets
State law requires citizens to use and maintain their property in ways that avoid creating hazardous road conditions for others, including not obstructing highway lanes and drainage facilities with snow and ice. Fines can be as high as several hundred dollars. Canton Borough would share the same advice PennDOT does when shoveling or plowing snow on property adjacent to state- or borough-owned streets: snow should be shoveled, blown or plowed to the ride side of the driveway as you are facing the intersecting roadway. By piling the snow away from the oncoming direction of the snow plows, the snow will not be pushed back onto the driveway. Eliminate snow piles at the property entrance whenever possible. High accumulations of snow can obstruct the vision of motorists, posing a safety hazard. Do not push, shovel or blow snow onto roadways at any time. This creates a hazardous condition for all vehicles.
Plowing Business Parking Lots
Please remember when plowing, or having plowed, parking lots of businesses that are at street intersections, not to pile the snow, or allow to be piled) so high that it interferes with traffic trying to pull from an intersection onto another street.