Before the Village of Great Neck Board of Trustees even started its Tuesday, March 10, meeting, residents approached the board to dispute tickets they received for not shoveling their sidewalks.
The village issued around 400 summonses to residents for snow-related violations this winter season, with a maximum fine of $350.
“This wasn’t fair,” one resident said as he approached Mayor Pedram Bral before the meeting. “This was a money grab.”
An attendee at the meeting said that people in a WhatsApp group chat had encouraged residents to attend the board meeting to voice their disapproval, and seven residents did.
“I know there are a lot of people who were upset about tickets that they got for this snow,” said Bral, but village officials were only enforcing their code, he said.
The village code requires residents to shovel their sidewalks within 24 hours of the cessation of snow, and the mayor asked inspectors to delay issuing tickets for an additional 24 hours.
Building Superintendent Michael Sweeney said the village first inspected high-traffic areas before following up on residents’ complaints. Sweeney also said residents of Nassau County and the Town of North Hempstead are required to clear their sidewalks of snow, and that the village shares county and town roads.
Deputy Mayor Barton Sobel and Trustee Eli Kashi said they both were issued summonses for snow violations.
“It’s not punitive. It’s not a money grab,” Bral said, adding that the village only has a couple of thousand dollars to gain.
Trustee Anne Mendelson countered that $140,000 could be gained with the volume of summonses, but Clerk/Treasurer Abraham Cohan said many are likely to be dismissed or not given the maximum fine.
Source: LI Press
