The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Town must find $2M to repair sidewalks
PORTLAND — There is general agreement that numerous sidewalks in town need fixing. There is even money — $1 million — to do it, part of a $10 million bond issue approved by residents last year.
But that sum represents only one-third of the estimated $3 million it would take to correct all the cracked, broken or decayed sidewalks in town, according to the public works director.
There is also an existing town ordinance, dating back to 1934 and updated in 1997, that puts the responsibility for fixing sidewalks on the individual homeowner. The ordinance has rarely, if ever, been used to compel residents to repair sidewalks in front of their property. But it places the liability for trip-and-fall accidents directly on the homeowner.
A 1987 state law requires homeowners to clear their sidewalks after a snowstorm and keep them clear of ice.
In fact, in the 23 years he has worked for the town, Director of Public Works Richard D. Kelsey said, “We haven’t once paid for a sidewalk complaint.”
“Right now, the burden (for repairing side-
walks) is 100 percent on the homeowner, and the liability is also 100 percent,” Kelsey told an audience of some 30 residents during a public hearing on the issue Wednesday night.
The Board of Selectmen wants to address the issue of sidewalks repair, but do so in such a way that it creates a sustainable fund for repairs while also extending the program to cover as many sidewalks as possible.
“We’re really trying to use your money the best way we can,” First Selectwoman Susan S. Bransfield told the audience.
As a first step, an existing sidewalk committee has proposed repairing sidewalks in the area between Freestone and Fairview avenues and extending from Main to High Street.
In the meantime, a special three-member subcommittee established by the selectmen has been reviewing options to find a fair and equitable way to pay for those repairs.
The two groups presented updates on their work during the hearing. The subcommittee offered three options: having the town pay the full cost of the project while installing sidewalks on both sides of a number of streets, or two versions of a 50/50 costsplitting plan, one of which would only build sidewalk on one side of a street.
The initial response from residents was overwhelming and emphatic. Speaker after speaker denounced requiring homeowners to be responsible for sidewalks repairs, arguing that sidewalks are infrastructure, just like roads.
In addition, the speakers almost uniformly also rejected a 50/50 proposal, which would split the cost of repairs between the town and individual homeowners.
Speakers characterized the proposal as inherently unfair, arguing they already pay town taxes and should not be further burdened by having to pay for repairs to sidewalks that all residents can and do use
Repairing sidewalks “should be a burden for the whole town,” East Main Street resident David L. Rutter said. “If we’re spending this money, let’s do it right.”
Later is the discussion, Rutter amended his comment. “If you’re going do something, don’t do it stupid.”
When it was presented to residents, the bond issue “didn’t give us any indication of a 50/50 split,” developer Rich Faraci said.
In addition to property taxes, homeowners in the affected area are also paying their share of the cost of the bond “so our share is more like 60 percent,” he said.
The town of Windsor, he said, has the best solution to the issue of sidewalks. Windsor requires a builder to install sidewalks well beyond the length of the property it is developing, anticipating future development will then link in to those sidewalks, Faraci said.
Following the close of the public hearing, selectmen were united in praising the input they had received from residents.
Selectman Ralph R. Zampano described the input as “fruitful,” while James K. Tripp said the comments were instructive.
“It’s very complicated in terms of which way we go,” said Tripp, who chairs the subcommittee.
Rick Sharr called the comments “enlightening,” while Michael A. Pelton said both the turnout and comments from residents “make me feel good about the town.”
The selectmen agreed to review the comments so they could take up the issue again at the next board meeting.
Kelsey is pressing for prompt action to approve the first phase of the sidewalk repair project, because the sooner he can submit a bid proposal to contractors, the better price he can get, he explained.
What’s more, if it does not do so quickly, the town will miss out on doing the work during the 2018 construction season, Kelsey warned.