In anticipation of the potential snow forecast for tonight and tomorrow we have a few tips to think about, please take caution. As of now, this storm is forecast with heavy snow starting tonight and continuing through to early tomorrow afternoon. Please stay tuned for notification system alerts, website and Facebook posts and media releases which will keep you informed, if necessary. Please visit www.villageofgreenisland.com for updated information.
If it falls as stated, it is possible a snow emergency could be called:
1. Please plan to remove your vehicles from Village streets if the snow comes as expected. If an emergency is called, all vehicles MUST be removed or they will be ticketed and towed. If you are away or sick or QUARANTINED and unable to move your vehicle, please contact family or friends ahead of time to see if they will move it for you. Any dumpsters or unattached trailers must be removed today (they should have been off the street by now anyway).
2. If your vehicle is ticketed and towed, you can call the Parking Violations Bureau at 518-273-2201 and/or drop payment with ticket in the mail slot at the Village Offices, 20 Clinton Street to start the process of reclaiming it. You can also pay online at https://villageofgreenisland.com/village/parking/ which is the quickest and easiest way to pay. You will be expected to pay $125 for the ticket and $125 for the tow before you can claim your vehicle. Note that this fee increased last year at the request of residents. Please treat the employees of the Parking Violations Bureau with respect and even thank them for their dedication, they have nothing to do with the ticket or tow.
3. In the event we get snow but an emergency is NOT called, it is still a good idea to voluntarily remove your vehicles from the streets so that plows can move snow back to the curb and create more space for emergency vehicles to get through and open up parking spaces for you and your neighbors as well.
4. Municipal parking lots will be available for parking during an emergency but please do not park in them until DPW has cleared them out beforehand. The Ford parking lot area on the east side (closest to the river) is available anytime at your own risk of being plowed in. All other lots will be barricaded until DPW clears them for emergency parking. Municipal lots include Lafayette Park, lot on south side of Cornerstone Housing (next to Green Island Bridge), 11 Hudson Avenue, Dudley Avenue near the Little League and the former Ford Motor Company lot. Thank you to Ashlee Phelen at the Bottle and Can Company for allowing public use of her lot for snow removal as well. She just asks that you not park there until Thursday afternoon so that it can be plowed out first.
5. If you have not signed up for alerts yet, please do so now by contacting micheleb@villageofgreenisland.com or completing the form available online at www.villageofgreenisland.com, completing it and dropping it in the mail slot at the Village Offices. Those submitted today will receive snow related alerts tomorrow. Better to do that now rather than visit the office to pay a ticket and tow after (we would rather you sign up).
6. Be safe out there, especially when shoveling heavy snow. Please remember that Village Code requires owners and tenants to clear their sidewalks of snow within 24 hours of the end of the storm.
7. Please check on your family, friends and neighbors throughout, especially the elderly, to be sure they are okay. During a major storm, neighbors helping neighbors is the best remedy to getting us through it.
8. As always, call 911 in the event of any emergency.