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February 10, 2010
SOMERVILLE ANNOUNCES ABATEMENT PROGRAM FOR FEB. 10th SNOW EMERGENCY TICKETS
Mayor Curtatone, T&P Announce Abatement of All Snow Emergency Tickets Issued on Feb. 10th, Provided Vehicle Owners Review City’s Snow Policies and Procedures
SOMERVILLE. - Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Acting Director of Traffic and Parking (T&P) Robert Bradley announced today that the City of Somerville will waive all snow emergency violations issued during the February 10th snow storm, provided that the vehicle owners acknowledge that they have reviewed City's snow emergency policies and procedures by signing a waiver, which will be available at City Hall and T&P. Community members are also encouraged to enlist in the City's Connect CTY notification system. The abatement will apply only to City-issued parking tickets, and to the portion of tow fees assessed by the City of Somerville ($25). A snow emergency was declared in Somerville effective at 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday when weather reports called for 8 to 10 inches of snow, but recalled at 6:00 p.m. when forecasters predicted less snow accumulation
"As we all know, winter weather in New England can be extremely unpredictable," Mayor Curtatone said. "As our snow emergency procedures clearly state, we will declare an emergency whenever four or more inches are forecast which, in today's instance, was previously indicated by all major news outlets. Our policies and procedures are in place strictly for public safety reasons, and although we were consistent with those policies, we felt that this may be an opportunity to continue to heighten awareness and further publicize our notification tools. Due to today's unpredictable weather, we feel it is appropriate to make an exception, and waive the fees incurred by residents during today's storm."
Any community member who received a violation, and wishes to have the fee waived or, in some cases, reimbursed, may do so by contacting 311 or by visiting Traffic and Parking, located at 133 Holland Street, or City Hall. Before tickets are abated, the vehicle owner must consent to a formal waiver acknowledging receipt of the City's snow emergency procedures. They will also have the opportunity to enlist in the City's Connect-CTY mass notification system, on a voluntary basis.
"The Connect-CTY system was enacted several years ago, and has proven to be an invaluable tool for residents and businesses, particularly in the case of snow emergencies," Mayor Curtatone said. "Community members may receive alerts at up to three telephone numbers - both land lines and cell phones - as well as up to two e-mail addresses. In order to ensure that community members are fully aware when snow emergencies are declared, we urge all residents and business owners to take advantage of this system."
In addition to Connect-CTY alerts, snow emergency declarations are available from a variety of sources, including:
To view the City's Snow Emergency procedures: Click here
To receive a copy of the abatement waiver: Click here
Completed forms should be mailed to Traffic & Parking 133 Holland St. Somerville, MA 02144 - Attention: Snow Abatement
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