Staff writer
Peabody residents who still have piles of branches in their yards downed by a Thanksgiving weekend ice storm will receive letters from the city instructing them to clean up the debris.
City council members instructed Peabody Police Chief Bruce Burke to begin compiling a list of property owners in violation of the ordinance requiring storm debris to be removed.
Burke said at a Jan. 25 council meeting he thought those in violation might number a dozen or so.
“However, when I began making the list as I patrolled around town, I realized that number was way short,” he said. “The total is 42.”
Burke said the letters are a reminder of the property owner’s responsibility.
“The city does not have enough employees to do storm clean up,” he said. “A number of people have pulled their branch piles to the curb, probably thinking the city or our trash service will pick it up, but that is not going to happen.”
Wet weather that accompanied and followed the November storm made the burn pit muddy and city council members were willing to hold off on cleanup demands until residents could get in and out without getting stuck.
“That grace period is now over and the limbs need to be removed so the community looks more presentable,” Burke said.
Letters will go out to property owners during the coming week.