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Report to council: Downtown snow removal not a priority

Princeton town council has decided to make downtown a priority snow removal route.
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Princeton town council has decided to keep existing priority snow removal routes in tact

Correction: The following information was based on a report given to town council, saying downtown should not be a priority snow removal route. Town council decided to include downtown as a priority route.

Drivers wanting snow cleared from downtown streets early in the morning are out of luck.

Princeton town council has decided to keep existing priority routes in tact, including emergency and bus routes, hills and intersections.

Snow will continue to be removed from downtown on the second day after a snowfall to allow time for additional dump trucks to be hired, said chief administrative officer Patrick Robins in a report to council.

Waiting until the second day also gives property owners enough time to clear their sidewalks, he said.

If crews remove the snow before sidewalks are cleared, property owners will toss snow back onto curbs, which may create dangerous slippery areas.

"Depending on the amount of snowfall, this may require town crews to remove snow for a second time," Robins said.

Clearing snow from priority routes and downtown would require a full public works crew, which is difficult due to sick, banked and vacation time, he said.

Hiring private contractors can also be a problem.

Using private contractors on non-critical areas should be avoided due to liability issues and the level of skill required, Robins said.

Princeton residents are required to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks by 11 a.m. each day.