Last week’s snowstorm left the sidewalks of Baltimore icy and potentially dangerous. Though few residents are aware of it, the Baltimore Legislative File Number 08-0252 is a clause stipulating that all home owners be responsible for the post-storm snow removal of the sidewalks directly in front of their houses.
“After any snow-fall that results in an accumulation of snow or ice on the ground, the snow and ice must be removed and cleared away from all side-walks about the premises,” the law states.
The law goes on to provide measurements and time constraints which stipulate that the job must be done within three hours of the end of snowfall and provide at least a two-feet, snow-free pathway.
Hopkins students make up a great deal of residents who live in rowhouses around campus. Keeping the houses and students in line has fallen partly under the jurisdiction of Hopkins student- community liaison, Carrie Bennett.
“The surrounding community around Hopkins has com- plained that Hopkins students are not complying with the law or keeping up to the standards of house maintenance that are to be expected, specifically in regard with keeping their driveways and street space clear of ice and snow,” Bennett said.
The penalty for allowing snow to pile up in the driveway is a fine of $15, which doubles each day that the snow and ice is left to wreak havoc on potential victims of its slippery surface. Though the simple process of cleaning the ice and snow from one’s driveway as a matter of complying with the law seems an easy enough guideline to follow, this law has become an issue of some contention in the recent weeks.
Although the students who own houses may not necessarily be affiliated with Hopkins housing, the job has fallen on Bennett nonetheless.
“As of late, I have tried reaching out to students in a number of new ways, and even tried to encourage students via Facebook and Twitter,” Bennett said.
Bennett also noted that frat houses are a particular source of contention, perhaps in part due to the large number of students that congregate in and around the houses on weekends.
“I tried to get the message out there to students [saying], hey — this is your responsibility,” Rob Turning, Head of Greek Life at Hopkins, said.
Several students have complained about the ice and slush in the streets and outside the frat houses, specifically those who are wearing heels or boots that were not designed for the snow.
“At Pike last Saturday the streets and driveway were covered in snow, but no one slipped,” freshman Charlotte James said.
“I went to Sigep (Sigma Phi Epsilon) on the weekend and didn’t really notice any ice or snow in the driveway. The frat seemed to have cleared it up,” freshman Nusaiba Baker commented.
However, Sigma Phi Epsion fraternity brother junior Christopher Joseph Mancuso stated that the fraternity does not shovel snow, nor have they ever been told to. “No, I did not know that there was a law requiring us to shovel snow,” he said.
Senior Adam Ryson, who is also a Sigma Phi Epsilon brother had also never heard of the law. “I had no idea that there was an actual law,” he said. “We always try to shovel the stairs so they’re usable, but we don’t always shovel the walk area.”
Ultimately, no serious injuries have occurred due to the snow.
