Snow removal

Started by DouglasJ • 4 replies • 1439 views

💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

DouglasJ (Maine)
Posts: 8

Posted:

I am a member of a 40 member 6 unit condo association. We have to plow our own street and parking areas. Are there any standards or common parameters that apply to a snow plowing contract.? For instance, at what depth of snow is it reasonable to have the areas plowed? At what time of day should this be done. We have several folkswho leave for work early in the AM 6:00AM. How well should they be accomodated? Should they again have snow plowed when they return home in the afternoon. Plowing snow to everyones satisfaction probably will never happen. but I am looking at what others do. Thanks Doug

GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022

Posted:

DouglasJ - Commencement of snow removal is a unique decision to each association, each association design, each association climate. In my HOA snow plowing to begin at 1" to 2". Since snow doesn't fall consistently at the same time, of every day....removal times can vary. The concept is to have the snow removed as soon as possible, have the walks, parking pads if any, cleared as often as possible. The comings and goings of the members is irrelevant since it's really impossible to gauge or accommodate everyone at all times. Don't forget salting procedures as well.

BruceF1 (Connecticut)
Posts: 2,535

Posted:

Plowing to everyone's satisfaction is not the issue here. It's your duty to maintain the roads in a safe condition. What you have to think about is the potential liability you assume if someone has an accident and claims that it was due to poor road conditions. Remember also, even if you (your HOA) prevails in any claim, it still costs you money to make it go away. Lawyers don't come for free.

PaulM (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 1,347

Posted:

DouglasJ: First thing is to realize that you will Never please everyone no matter what you decide. There are those who believe they should be catered to because they pay an association fee and their personal needs are to be met
regardless of what the cost is and how others feel .

Your decisions must be based on what is good for the majority of the community residents--that would be how adequate your present budget is and would you need to increase it to render snow removal properly for any snow/ice situation. Residents must realize that IF they were still living in their apartment complex, or their neighborhood of single homes, they would have to wait for the municipality to get around to plowing THEIR street; OR they would enlist someone to personally clean their snow for a fee; OR they would do it themselves.

To try to reach a middle ground here, you might want to consider a 2-3" snow rule meaning that no snow will be removed until it hits 2-3". Further, all residents are strongly encouraged to retain a bag of rock salt for icy conditions. As far as accommodating the early-to-work residents, in all truth, you probably are not going to get a contractor to agree to "do your community first" and the early-to-work residents may have to back their car right out of their garage or driveway onto the snow covered road. What would they have done before moving to a community association? They may have had to do it themselves, if they wanted to, or they would wait until the plow truck came by. But, they would wait.

So it is too in community associations. Sometimes we have to wait our turn.

EdieL (Virginia)
Posts: 86

Posted:

In Virginia, Dept. of Transportation has standards of when snow
is removed from public streets. If the POA follows the same standards
you have an avenue to limit your liability. Check your State.

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

✓ Ask follow-up questions
✓ Share your experience
✓ Get expert advice
✓ Access 350,000 discussions

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here