As snow fell outside, tempers rose last night as city council debated cuts to sidewalk snow clearing. Some members of council, inundated with complaints about a staff-initiated cut to sidewalk snow plowing, chastised staff for cutting back the service without council's approval.

When council was reminded it had instructed staff to find savings in its snow removal budget, Coun. Ab Chabhar jumped to staff's defence.

"I'm almost appalled at the line of questioning," Chabhar said. "We asked them to do it, they acted and we attack them."

At a committee meeting last week, staff advised it would save $200,000 by reducing sidewalk snow removal as part of its bid to wrestle down the city's $7-million snow removal budget.

Staff also advised the reduction in service would still fall within the standards established by council in 1990, which requires sidewalks to be cleared after eight centimetres of snow accumulates.

Currently, sidewalks are cleared after only five centimetres of snowfall. The bylaw also requires owners to shovel sidewalks fronting their properties.

City engineer Peter Steblin stressed sidewalks still will be plowed once eight centimetres of snow falls, but not as swiftly as in the past, avoiding costly overtime.

Coun. Susan Eagle, who last week questioned whether the city is liable if someone is injured because sidewalks aren't plowed, started the questioning.

"My concern is staff has already implemented cuts to service in anticipation of council's direction," Eagle said.

Other councillors also inquired about liability issue.

Coun. Harold Usher asked if the city estimated how many accidents might occur and the potential cost to the city compared to the savings.

Steblin said city lawyers advised a "reasonable" level of service is still being provided and there was no concern about liability.

Coun. Bill Armstrong said he's already heard from residents, especially seniors and people with disabilities and those using wheelchairs, concerned the reduced sidewalk maintenance will cause them problems getting around.

Coun. David Winninger agreed.

"Given the significance of the issue to so many Londoners, I move that we not decrease the winter maintenance budget," he said.

With the city facing its toughest budget in recent memory this year, and a $2-million budget overrun on last year's snow removal costs, council directed staff to cut costs.

It's just one of several cost-cutting recommendations staff will bring in the coming weeks to cut a potential $2.5 million from a total environmental services budget of $50 million.

Councillors will vote on the recommendations during budget deliberations that begin next week.