Saint John punts debate over snow removal plan

Saint John Coun. Ray Strowbridge is upset his push for changes to the citys winter management plan has been put on the backburner.

Strowbridge says many people in his east Saint John ward, and in other residential areas of the city, have waited days for a snowplow to even partially clean their streets.

He put a motion on Monday night's council agendaasking for a review of the system that determines when and how priority three and four streets are plowed.

Instead of the debate he wanted, the majority of council voted to refer his motion to staff, which means the issues will not be discussed until a later date.

The referral motion was made by Coun. Donna Reardon.

"I don't want to debate it right now because I need more information on it," said Reardon.

"I think it needs to be referred there [to city staff] first for us to get the information so we can intelligently debate it."

Strowbridge was clearly disappointed with the 6-4 vote to refer the motion to city officials. He told reporters after the meeting there is no deadline for staff to report back and no instructions to make changes.

"The motion was a complete waste of time," said Strowbridge.

"A referral motion, open-ended like that, accomplishes absolutely nothing. It doesn't accomplish a thing because there is nothing in it. I would have liked to see staff answer some questions. I would have liked to have seen council discuss whether they believe that the priority four system needs to be changed."

Strowbridge says he is still being contacted by angry residents in his ward, who are having difficulty getting out of their streets because snowbanks at many intersections have not been pushed back.

In his motion, Strowbridge stated the current snow management plan directs plow operators to "ignore priority four streets while they drive by plowing priority three streets numerous times."

Saint John Mayor Mel Norton said he supported the move to refer that matter to staff.

"It's going to come back for a full and complete discussion on all the issues that councillor Strowbridge and many of the citizens are concerned about," said Norton.