Timmins' mayor wants to clear up what sidewalks are maintained by the city over the winter.
At the Nov. 10 council meeting, Mayor George Pirie brought up a staff report on the item from May 2019. It recommended that council formalize the closure of sidewalks not maintained during winter with a bylaw. A decision was not made at that time.
Pirie asked for a debate on the item at the next council meeting Nov. 24.
“Because we’re all getting questions on a regular basis on this, let’s decide what we’re going to do so we can put it to bed,” he said.
According to the 2019 report, in the winter 118 kilometres of the 177 kilometres of sidewalks in the city are maintained.
"Passing a bylaw that closes the current unmaintained sidewalk during the winter season eliminates the immediate risk to the corporation, and allows Public Works and Engineering to budget and plan for a sidewalk needs study. There would be some costs involved in advertising and the possible need for signage," reads the report.
In the past, Public Works has received requests to alternate the sidewalks maintained annually. The department didn't support the idea in the report and wanted consistency with what sidewalks are maintained.
It also noted that the Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee suggested that if sidewalks are maintained on one side of the street, that it be the same side for all streets.
A list of the sidewalks closed in the winter is available at the end of the report here.
