Public Works
The Public Works Department of Douglass Township is well
prepared in the event of a major snowstorm, but snow storms are
stressful on everyone, including our personnel. So we are
requesting the assistance and cooperation of our residents this
season to help us during inclement weather.
Please have patience and understand that during a prolonged
snow event every inch of snow cannot be removed from the streets
the moment the event ends. If it takes hours to occur, it
will take hours to remove. We also ask residents who
have off-street parking to utilize that and remove vehicles from
the street. Plowing around cars is dangerous, time consuming
and often impossible in some locations. Residents are also
encouraged to delay the shoveling of driveway aprons until the
roadway in front of the residence has been plowed. If you
shovel before we plow, your driveway will most likely be plowed
back in. This is something we cannot prevent. Our
personnel are merely trying to clear the roadway so when your
vehicles leave the driveway it can safely maneuver on the
roads.
Snow plows drive slower than most other vehicles on the
road. Please don't tailgate our snow plows - it's dangerous
for you and the driver of the plow. Plow drivers are
professionals who know how fast they can safely drive and how
quickly they can stop the plow truck. Because snow plows also
salt the roads with spreaders that throw salt across the lanes of
traffic you are required to STAY BACK 50 FEET. Following too
closely will make it impossible for the plow driver to see you and
your vehicle is in danger of being backed into or of being sprayed
with damaging rock salt. Maintaining this 50 foot distance
will insure that you and your vehicle remain safe and will also
make you much more visible to the plow driver. The safety of
our residents and our employees is our priority.
ORDINANCE NO. 2013-01 (Snow and Ice Removal)
Responsibility for Removal. The owner and/or the occupant
and/or the tenant of any property within Douglass Township,
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, shall remove snow and/or ice from
sidewalks of such properties abutting upon roads, streets or alleys
within twelve (12) hours of daylight after any snow has ceased to
fall or ice to form. The snow or ice shall be removed so that
a path shall be cleared for the full width of the sidewalk, in case
of any sidewalk of three feet (3') or less in width, and so that a
path of at least three feet (3') in width shall be cleared on all
sidewalks wider than three feet (3'). The snow and ice
removed shall not be placed in the gutter or in the roadway of any
road, street or alley. Ord.76-1, 2/2/1976, (SS1)