City resident, Paul Wolff, asks for more reminders or reinforcement to be done for clearing of city sidewalks. Screenshot courtesy of the city of Jamestown’s website

As another winter storm pelts the region the city of Jamestown is reminding city residents about their responsibility to keep the sidewalks clear by their houses as much as possible, something that was also reinforced at Monday’s voting session by city resident, Paul Wolff.

Wolff returned to speak to the council at the voting session because of issues he has had on city sidewalks over the last few days and the holidays, slips and falls that included him ending up in the hospital over Christmas. He said as a disabled person he is already in pain every day, and the lack of maintenance on city sidewalks is making it worse.

Wolff reported multiple separate incidents, one on Dec. 10 by the 7/11, and others on Dec. 22 including at the business on Pine and Sixth Street, Kiss My Lash.

“The young lady there, she answered the door and told me she wasn’t aware that it was her responsibility to maintain the Sixth Street side, but she would let the people who maintain her sidewalk know that it was,” Wolff said. “I appreciate that from her.”

Another slip and fall on Pine Street on Dec. 22 ended up with Wolff in the hospital, and why he said he was unable to enjoy his Christmas this year. This was in front of the salon across the street from Kiss My Lash, and in front of an employee of the Department of Development, who Wolff said saw the whole thing and offered to help him up. On this occasion, Wolff said when he asked when the sidewalk would be cleared that the resident was, to his knowledge, supposed to maintain, the man who opened the door slammed it in his face.

“I don’t know who is supposed to maintain Sixth Street,” Wolff said. “I see snowblower tracks on the sidewalks. So I don’t know, but whoever it’s supposed to be, you sent me to the hospital.”

Wolff added that he sees these types of issues being caused either by poor enforcement of city ordinances or lack of knowledge to city residents and business owners. What also irritates him, he said, was that his wife saw a post on the city Facebook page earlier the day of the voting session reminding residents of their responsibility to keep sidewalks clear by their houses. Wolff questioned where the enforcement behind these reminders was.

The Facebook post mentioned was posted on the City of Jamestown Municipal Facebook page on Monday morning, with winter safety reminders for both residents and pedestrians.

“Property Owners: Please remember to shovel and salt sidewalks adjacent to your property as soon as possible after snowfall,” the post reads. “Clear, treated sidewalks help prevent slips, falls, and injuries for neighbors, mail carriers, and first responders.”

Wolff said when something like this is not enforced or does not get done, people get hurt.