Bellevue Council is expected to vote on March 23 to amend the borough's snow removal ordinance so that the notice requirement does not defeat the purpose.

Like most municipalities, Bellevue has an ordinance that requires property owners and tenants to clear snow and ice from sidewalks within 24 hours. Director of administrative services Connie Flasher said that the ordinance requires that the borough provide written notice of the violation and then wait seven days before taking action, by which time the snow has melted on its own. Flasher said that the same property owners are violating the ordinance on a regular basis, but cannot be cited because of the notice requirement.

"It's the same people habitually who do not shovel their sidewalks," Flasher said.

The amendment to the ordinance would allow the borough to notify property owners one time per calendar year, instead of after every snowfall.