Currently, property owner must maintain abutting sidewalk
Most people don't know that they are responsible for keeping the sidewalk in front of their property in good repair.
Town Code 7-5-10, adopted in 1989, specifies that:
"All owners or agents of owners with property abutting and fronting upon any plaza, street or alley within the town are required to keep the public sidewalks immediately abutting their property in good order and repair. Each such owner shall be liable to the town for all losses to the town or recoveries from the town for damages to persons or the property of others caused by his failure or that of his agents to repair and keep in good order and reasonably safe condition all such sidewalks."
Repeal in order?
Tomorrow, Town Council will hold a public hearing on repealing this requirement. The proposal is that the town be responsible for maintaining the sidewalk in the same manner as it is responsible for maintaining the road.
According to town staff: "...out of all the sidewalk repair notifications sent, only about 10% were ultimately repaired by the abutting property owner."(Source) Thus, the town has been repairing sidewalks at an annual cost of about from $5,000 to 8,000.
This is a public hearing. Feel free to provide your thoughts to Council on this tomorrow night.
