TIGNISH -- Tignish residents want safe places to walk. About a dozen residents attended the January meeting of Tignish Community Council Monday to make a pitch to have the sidewalks kept clear of snow.
Although he offered no guarantees, council chair Allan McInnis promised that council members will investigate the cost and feasibility of providing the service and report their findings during an upcoming monthly meeting.
“We’re interested in finding out exactly why our sidewalks aren’t cleared,” Jenny Matthews, speaking on behalf of the group, asked.
Noting that sidewalks are kept clear in Alberton and O’Leary, Martin said, “I don’t understand why we don’t have that luxury.”
McInnis endeavoured to explain. He said he had pushed work sidewalk cleaning during a previous term on council, but costs of maintaining the program and concern about clearing sidewalks while there were still areas in need of sidewalk.
It was pointed out Tignish has more sidewalks than the other communities mentioned and some are well off the streets, making them expensive to clear.
Liability insurance, equipment and manpower costs and a new bylaw are factors that need to be examined, and the new service would have to be taken to a public meeting for consideration, McInnis reported.
“If you want my view on it, I honestly think, I’d still like to see the sidewalks cleaned. Maybe not all of them, but maybe some of the major ones in the community,” McInnis told the delegation which included representation from the Tignish Seniors Home which has residents who enjoy getting out for walks.
Matthews was encouraged by the response and admitted she was expecting more opposition.
Karen Kinch said the group just wants council to start the process again, expressing confidence it would receive community support.
McInnis told the group council would welcome any suggestions they might have for helping to keep the cost of the service affordable.
