By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Fitness and fresh air are year-round pursuits.

Several residents spoke up in support of removing snow from the boardwalks so that people could enjoy wintertime walks on the Causeway instead of being forced to the edge of the road.

“We have people walking on the street. Get ’em up on the sidewalk. We paid good money for that,” Calvin Weeks said, referring to the Causeway restoration that was part of the state construction project in 2010 through 2013. The town paid for a percentage of that total cost.

Marie Kushner was the first person to make the request for snow removal during this particular Naples Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday. She spoke during the public participation period.

“I want to ask the select-board to put in the budget the cost for snow removal for the sidewalks for next year,” Kushner said.

“It is a shame that we are not able to walk on the Causeway during the winter. There are so many people, especially elderly people, who need a safe flat place to walk,” Kushner said.

Based on the number of people who are out and about walking around Naples, there is a demand, she said.

“Please put it in the budget and let the voters decide,” she said.

In the past decade, other residents have asked if the town could maintain the sidewalks during the winter. And, in the past, the town officials had decided that it was not an expense that should be in the budget.

Area business-owner Weeks spoke after Kushner, saying he agreed with her proposal. Weeks has already discussed snow-removal and its environment impact on the water quality with representatives of both the Department of Environment Protection (DEP) and also with Lakes Environmental Association (LEA).

“There aren’t any concerns about the snow and salt from the sidewalks getting into the water. The biggest amount is residual from Route 302,” Weeks said.

He recommended that the Long Lake side be cleared for walking. He said that it is not necessary to put sand mixed with de-icing products directly on the sidewalk.

“We don’t have to sand it. We have to clear it. I’ve talked to Harrison and Bridgton —they don’t salt and sand” their sidewalks, he said.

He said that if the town removes the snow on the Long Lake side, the sun will do the rest of the work.

“We are talking about locals going from Point A to Point B. There are plenty of people who would use that [boardwalk] instead of walking out in the road,” he said.

“We need to look at this seriously . . .  Add it to the budget and get rid of the snow,” Weeks said.

Resident Jon Marsh echoed the previous sentiments.

“We have a ten-million-dollar streetscape that is recognized across the nation, and we cannot walk on it,” Marsh said. “Could you consider putting it in the budget?”

Some of the selectmen’s considerations were: that salt would deteriorate the new stain on the sidewalks; that the town would be liable for injury if sidewalks were kept open all winter; and that the cost of wintertime maintenance was more than taxpayers wanted to pay.

Chairman Jim Grattelo was concerned about damage to the new stain that will be applied this spring. 

“We are spending $78,000 to repair the sidewalk. The last thing that makes sense is if we clear the sidewalk” of snow, he Grattelo said, explaining that the snow would cover the sidewalk and protect it from the salt mix that the state uses on Route 302.

Leaving the snow there would protect the product in which the town has invested money, Grattelo said.

Selectman Bob Caron II said he recalled the reasons were “cost and liability” that caused the selectmen to say no to budgeting it in the past.

Weeks said, “There is no liability if someone walks there.”

Selectman Kevin Rogers said, “If we don’t maintain it, it is closed for the season” and then the town is not liable.

Marsh noted. “Insurance liability is not an issue. Maine municipalities are specifically immune from [people suing from injury from falling] on ice and snow on sidewalks.”

The company doing work for the town has pinpointed the weather-resistant paint that will be used, he said, and that resolves the issue with the boardwalk being ruined. 

The town should allow residents to use the boardwalk instead of keeping it under snow all winter, he said.

Dennis Hodgkins, who along with his wife Carol owns the Augustus Bove House said he backs the boardwalk being open during the winter.

“We have guests who want to take a walk,” he said. “There is a lot more lability from someone getting hit by a car than falling on the sidewalk.”

Weeks spoke again saying, there are products that have been proven to resist salt.

“Run a snowblower down there, then the sun will melt the ice,” he said. “If you put a path in, people will use it.”