Columbia Borough to tighten snow removal enforcement after recent "chaos"

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

At the January 27 Columbia Borough Council meeting, residents voiced frustration over what one speaker characterized as "chaos" when independent contractors plowed snow on public streets after Sunday's snowfall. 

“It is illegal to push snow on a borough street without a contract with Columbia Borough," Mayor Leo Lutz responded. "Residents cannot push that snow, or someone with a pickup truck can't go down the street and plow the street. That's illegal.” Residents may pile snow in front of the borough highway department on Front Street, according to Lutz.

Piling snow at intersections can reduce visibility and cause flooding when the snow thaws, Lutz said.  He cited operators of pickup trucks with plows, ATVs with plows and bobcats as examples of recent violators of borough ordinance. Councilman Kelly Murphy said the ordinance states that the fine for a violation "shall not exceed $600." Lutz said enforcement will be stricter going forward.

The borough is currently working to improve communication with residents during snow emergencies, according to Lutz. Officials plan to post street-by-street plowing schedules in advance.