FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BY MAYOR STEWART

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


February 7, 2011



CONTACT: Lisa Carver, Mayor’s Office (860) 826-3303

Sgt. Robert Martin, NBPD, (860) 826-3013



NEW BRITAIN TAKES ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO DEAL WITH UNPRECEDENTED SNOW ACCUMULATIONS; MAYOR STEWART CALLS FOR COOPERATION FROM CITY RESIDENTS



Mayor Timothy T. Stewart today announced additional measures the City is taking to ensure public safety as New Britain continues to deal with an unprecedented accumulation of snow.



“I called an emergency meeting this morning of applicable departments to brainstorm ways to deal with any continuing hazards from previous storms as well as any additional accumulations expected this week,” said Mayor Stewart. “Given New Britain’s density, the number of hills, and the lack of off street parking in many multi-family buildings, we have been particularly hard hit this winter.”



At the meeting were representatives of the Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks, Property Management and Water Departments as well as from New Britain EMS (ambulance) and the Consolidated School District. Issues discussed included accessibility of emergency vehicles and school buses, restrictions for on street parking, visibility at intersections and sharing of information among departments.



Mayor Stewart continued, “Our first priority is the safety of residents, employees, and visitors to our City. Of particular concern is the steps needed to ensure that emergency vehicles can continue to get through when needed and of course, the safety of children in getting to school. We are taking several steps (outlined below) to allow city employees to continue the clean up and prioritize those streets that need additional attention to ensure public safety.”



Those additional steps are as follows:



1. Effective immediately and until further notice, there will be a 24-hour parking ban on streets designated as snow emergency routes (see attached list). No overnight parking will be allowed on these streets. This is separate from the storm related parking ban being issued for Tuesday’s anticipated storm (#2).

2. A parking ban for all City streets will begin at midnight tonight (Monday, February 7th) until further notice. Given the limited width, particularly on secondary roads, the ban will be strictly enforced and cars will be ticketed and towed. Residents are reminded to use the lots designated for free parking (see attached).

3. Residents, businesses and private plowing contractors are reminded that under Connecticut General Statutes Sec. 13b-221 there is a $100 fine for dumping snow on a public road. Contractors plowing driveways and private parking lots have made a bad situation worse by plowing snow into already narrowed City streets. Police will be strictly enforcing this statute during Tuesday’s and any additional storms.

4. The School District, Fire, Police and EMS will be working together with the Public Works Department to prioritize areas that need snow removal to improve accessibility for emergency vehicles and school buses. Other City departments, such as Parks and Property Management, will assist in helping to clear those priority areas.

5. When clearing out the above priority areas, it may be necessary to temporarily limit parking and access to streets to facilitate the cleaning.

6. Property owners are reminded to clear their sidewalks and any fire hydrants near their property. Also, if there are catch basins in the vicinity of your property, please attempt (although snow accumulations may make this not feasible) to keep those clear to minimize flooding and standing water when thawing does occur.





Mayor Stewart concluded, “I want to commend city employees and private citizens alike who are dealing with the worst winter in decades as best we can. I ask for continued cooperation and patience so that everyone can get through until spring safely. Let this also serve as a warning to those who continue to dump snow in the streets or defy the parking ban: we will be strictly enforcing local and state laws to facilitate keeping our streets clear.”



Questions on parking bans and other traffic concerns can be directed to the New Britain Police Department at (860) 826-3000. Concerns on snow operations can be directed to the Public Works Department at (860) 826-3350 or after business hours to the City Yard at (860) 826-3480.