"Downtown" shall be described as that area bounded
by and including Lackawanna Avenue, Mifflin Avenue, Mulberry Street
and Jefferson Avenue.
The owner of property fronting or abutting on
any designated public street, lane or alley in the city shall be required
to construct sidewalks and keep the same in good repair and condition
and shall construct, replace and repair the same in accordance with
the provisions of this Article.
Upon the issuance of a building permit for a
new building, the owner through his contractor, is obligated to install
sidewalks, if required, as a part of the building contract. Such installation
shall be in accordance with the regulations of this Article.
It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector
to serve notices on the owner of any lot or piece of land in the downtown
area of the city in front or on the side of which the sidewalk is
out of repair or where no required sidewalk has been laid. Where the
owner cannot be found, the Building Inspector is to cause the notice
to be served on his agent or on the tenant or occupier of such lot
or piece of land, notifying such owner to repair or construct a sidewalk
as required by this Article. In case the owner of any vacant lot or
piece of land does not reside in the city and has not agent on whom
service can be made, it shall be the duty of the Building Inspector
to cause the notice provided for under this Article to be served on
such owner, if the same can be found, by registered mail or otherwise
at his place of residence or by posting the notice on the most public
part of the property. Whenever any notice has been served under this
Article, the person serving shall make an affidavit of the time and
manner of service and upon whom the same is served. This affidavit
shall be filed in the office of the Director of the Department of
Public Works.
If any owner, subject to the provisions of this
Article, shall refuse or neglect to comply therewith after thirty
(30) days' notice to do so by the Department of Public Works, then
the city shall have sidewalks constructed, repaired or replaced in
accordance with this Article and the cost and expense of the same,
together with a penalty of fifteen percent (15%) additional cost,
shall be collected from the person so refusing or neglecting in the
manner provided.
Whenever the city has constructed, replaced
or repaired sidewalks, the City Engineer shall certify the cost thereof
to the City Treasurer, who shall collect such costs. Such costs shall
be liened upon the premises from the time of the filing of such certification.
It shall then be the duty of the City Treasurer to place in the hands
of the city solicitor within six (6) months from the time of receiving
such certification of costs and expenses against any property or properties,
a list of claims against such property or properties showing the amount
paid on each and the City Solicitor shall thereupon file liens for
such claims in the Clerk of Judicial Records Office in the proper
lien docket.