North Providence may get unique snow plowing money

February 4, 2015 7:11 pm

When it comes to snow removal in North Providence, it looks like going smaller is a better idea.

The town has one mini-sidewalk plow and clearing near schools has been a top priority.

“After the snow the last couple of days, it’s been tough with certain people walking around in the street, and I keep thinking to myself, ‘Get those sidewalks clear, so they can safely go where they need to go, so absolutely,” says resident Becky Sibielski.

North Providence is hoping to get two more of the sidewalk snow plows at cost of nearly $100,000.

Mayor Charles Lombardi is asking the US Department of Justice to use the so called Google settlement money that is earmarked for law enforcement.

He says snow removal is a public safety function.

While North Providence may have solved its sidewalk clearing problem, Providence has not.

We found a man clearing a church side walk the old fashioned way for the third time in just days.

He wishes the capital city would get more equipment like North Providence.

“Very difficult. It took me an hour so far to take this mountain down. I ‘ll be here another two hours probably, trying to clean the sidewalk out,” says maintenance man Richard Matera.

The North Providence mayor say he’d rather buy the mini–snow plows, instead of fining residents and business owners for sidewalk violations as they do in Providence.

Mayor Lombardi has written to the Department of Justice hoping to get permission to use the Google money for snow removal equipment but he has yet to hear back.