RUMFORD – Snow removal problems loomed large during discussions between selectmen, plow truck operators and residents at Thursday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting in the town hall.

At one point, some selectmen sought a hard-line stance toward residents and business owners who bury sidewalks and sections of roads with piles of snow removed from driveways.

Then, after a few people raised several issues and one threatened a lawsuit if police ticket him and not others for doing it, board opinion melted.

In the end, Town Manager Len Greaney suggested they seek voluntary compliance from residents and business owners to not plow snow into roadways or bury sidewalks.

Doing so, violates state and town law and will net tickets and fines starting this winter at the discretion of police until selectmen decide what works best.

Greaney began discussion about rearranging priorities of plowing and snow removal by town crews.

After one snowstorm last week, some people said they were concerned about the safety of their children, who have had to walk in streets because sidewalks were buried in snow.

The problem, he said, happens when multiple storms hit the area two to three days apart, with each storm depositing 4 inches or more. Sidewalks would never get cleared based on current priorities.

He said he gave Public Works crews permission to bounce around on the priority list to care for sidewalks.

The other part of the problem involves the time it takes to clear the downtown island area.

Greaney’s remedies include hiring 10-wheel trucks to haul more snow faster or renegotiate his deal with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to not dump snow into the Androscoggin River or canal.

Last winter, the town was fined $5,500 for dumping snow into the river’s canal system from Canal Street. Prior to this winter, Greaney agreed that Rumford would establish two snow dumps away from the river and its canal system. One is off Rumford Avenue; the other, behind the Public Works building on the other end of town.

On Thursday night, he said he would meet with DEP on Friday to see if the town can again dump snow into the river, but only along roads adjacent to the river – Canal and River streets – to better expedite the snow removal process.

Police Chief Stacy Carter then elaborated on problems he and his officers are seeing dealing with people pushing snow out of their driveways or from in front of businesses and into roads and atop sidewalks. This slows work by town crews and has been happening for years.

“Last winter, with all the snow we got, it got out of hand and became a nuisance,” Carter said.

Not so this winter. Carter said his officers will issue tickets which carry a $165 fine for snow, ice or slush plowed into or allowed to remain in a public way.

“It’s not our desire to issue those summonses. We’re hoping for voluntary compliance from businesses and citizens,” he said.

Additionally, the town’s ordinance follows state law, but only fines $50 for first offense. However, Carter said, it gives Rumford the right to seek restitution of town costs to clean up the mess.

Police started issuing warnings on Thursday to people caught depositing snow in roadways. However, he said some have no other place than the road or sidewalks on which to put plowed or blown snow due to one-way driveways or being sandwiched between two or more buildings.

Businessman and plow truck operator Jim Barnett admitted guilt at leaving one pile where he shouldn’t have, but said he plows 29 places and takes care of 350 feet of sidewalk. He said he didn’t want to be singled out for tickets.

Another businessman and longtime plow operator, Michael Mills, sought clarification from selectmen, Greaney and Carter about what would warrant ticketing. He said, he, too, felt like the town was singling him out after having received a letter from Greaney regarding snow removal.

“Do we want to be hardball and push this?” Selectman Mark Belanger asked.

“This is going to be a huge issue. It’s not just businesses,” Selectman Brad Adley said.

“It’s a huge issue, but it’s also a public safety issue, because people are walking in streets or driving on the other side of the street” because their lane is blocked by snow, Carter said.

“You’ve either got to slam the door or be lenient,” Mills said.

That’s when Greaney suggested a trial run seeking voluntary compliance.

“It’s a slippery slope if we go down this (hard-stance) road. It’s not going to be good,” Adley said.

After more discussion, Carter said, “We will use discretion. Hopefully, I’ll get through the winter without a lawsuit.”