Resident sidewalk repair program continues

Planning for further sidewalk repair and replacement for the coming year in the city of Amherst is being laid out.

A resolution that would authorize a contract for the repairs was passed for further review during a Jan. 7 City Council meeting.

This year’s project is not to exceed $300,000, according to the resolution.

So far, Mayor Mark Costilow and safety service director John Jeffreys have agreed with the building department that sidewalks on Tenney Avenue, West Street, Woodhill Drive, Church Street, Cleveland Avenue, Cross Avenue, East Street, Elyria Avenue, Franklin Street, Hazel Street, Jackson Street, Maple Avenue, Middle Street, Park Avenue, Pearl Street, Shupe Street and Spring Street should be included in the program.

“Council started this process last year for round number one,” Costilow said during the meeting, adding that the project will last between four and five years. “Council tweaked it quite a bit and changed some ordinances to make it a better process.”

A letter sent to Costilow and Jeffreys from building inspector David Macartney said the sidewalk program encompassed 44,511 square feet of sidewalk in 2018, not including 61 curb ramps that also were replaced.

“It’s a little less of a program than last year, but it’s more spread out,” said Costilow. “We’ve tried to make it as convenient for people as possible.”

This year, Costilow said the city is planning to put a time constraint on each portion of sidewalk between the beginning of construction and when the property owner’s yard is restored.

“We’ll get in and out of the neighborhood quicker,” he said.

Additionally, the city will not do sidewalk construction and road repair at the same time in 2019.

Costilow said since North Main Street will have some repairs done in the coming year, its sidewalks will be repaired later in the program.

Councilman Chuck Winiarski applauded the city’s efforts concerning the program.

“It was quite the learning experience last year,” Winiarski said. “It was a lot of work, and I give the administration and building department and the residents who were impacted by this a ton of credit.”