Full Notification

Street Brining, Salting & Snow Removal Guidelines

The Borough may spread brine on the streets BEFORE it freezes and snows. Pre-treating streets with brine is 300 to 400% more efficient than waiting for ice to form and then applying salt. A brine treated street will normally not require an application of salt until well after the storm has begun. Salt material may be spread on the roads at the start of a storm and or when snow starts to accumulate.

The Snow Removal Plan calls for the Borough to be divided into sections. Each section is assigned a driver and a specific piece of equipment to plow and remain in that section until all roadways have been sufficiently cleared. This may require the snow removal vehicle to make multiple passes on each street. Borough Snow Removal Vehicles will plow each street curb to curb during each snowfall. On occasion, due to the lack of areas between the sidewalk and curb, sidewalks and driveway aprons may become covered with snow. Borough Snow Removal Vehicles will not remove snow from any sidewalk or driveway apron.

Within each section, the major collection streets and roadways are attended to first with the residential streets following. This prioritization is based on identifying primary accesses, emergency response needs and school bus routes. Local streets, and particularly cul-de-sac streets, are plowed after primary streets have been cleared. The local streets carry the least amount of traffic and must be serviced in accordance with that factor. The Borough is aware that your street is important to you and our Public Works Department is committed to continue providing excellent snow removal service.

Each property owner can also assist the Borough in providing an improved level of service by observing the following suggestions:

One of the most important ways to assist the Borough is by not parking vehicles in cul-de-sac or on local municipal streets. Plows cannot get into a turn-around when cars are parked on the street. Please keep your vehicle off the street until the street has been completely cleared. Residents are reminded that the Borough has a general policy for snow removal; however, each storm event may be a cause for change.

The Borough, in most cases, will plow the street two separate times. The first time will be to clear an access to the primary roads and the second pass will push the snow back to the edge of the street (curb to curb). This is done to provide clearance on the street and to insure an adequate area to plow snow in additional storm.

Know that when streets are plowed, the snow will go into your driveway and onto your sidewalk. If possible, wait until the street is plowed before clearing driveway openings or sidewalks. Also, please clear a wider area on the edge of the street before your driveway to allow much of the snow to leave the plow before it gets into your driveway.

Never shovel snow out into the streets. Snow shoveled into the street causes a hazard by freezing and causing bumps in the roadway. Be a good neighbor and shovel snow away from the street and if applicable, onto your lawn.

For safety reasons, please shovel out fire hydrants and crosswalks located on or in close proximity to your property.

Motorists are urged to have a greater awareness of municipal vehicles salting or plowing snow. The municipal vehicle is performing an emergency operation and motorists should not interfere or impede the plow in any way. In the course of clearing the street, the municipal vehicle may behave in unexpected ways, such as backing up a short distance against traffic.

Any person who is in charge or control of any building or lot affronting a sidewalk shall remove ice or snow or clear a path of at least thirty inches (30") in width from the sidewalk. An attempt should be made to remove the snow or ice from the sidewalk within twelve (12) hours after the cessation of any fall of snow, sleet or freezing.

Mailboxes: In an attempt to remove snow from the roads, plowed snow may damage mailboxes. Wet, heavy snow increases the chance of damage to mailboxes. To reduce the potential for damage make sure your mailbox is secured tightly on a sturdy post. Residents are reminded that damage occurring from plowed snow is the property owner's responsibility. The Borough crews makes every effort to avoid causing damage to mailboxes.

Portable Basketball Poles/Nets: Portable Basketball poles are not acceptable items within the right-of-way. As an unapproved structure within the legal right-of-way, the following applies: The Borough shall not be held liable for any damage to basketball poles, nets or any other recreational equipment located within the public right-of-way that is damaged by plowed snow or struck by Borough vehicles during plowing operations. The Borough will seek full payment for any damage to salting/plowing equipment caused by recreational equipment located within the public right-of-way.

Pursuant to the Code of the Borough of Fair Lawn §208-2: Depositing snow and ice on streets and sidewalks prohibited. No person, firm or corporation, owner, tenant or occupant of any premises abutting on any street shall throw, place or deposit any snow or ice into or upon any street in the Borough of Fair Lawn.

Your cooperation in following the above ordinance will greatly increase our ability to clear the roads of snow and ice in a prompt and timely manner.

For additional information, please contact our Department of Public Works Administration Office at 201-794-5304 or 201-794-5326.