[Ord. of 6-15-1978, § 1]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Arterial road
shall mean any road which moves a large volume of vehicles
from one part of town to another.
Base course
shall mean that material placed directly below the wearing
surface.
Collector street
shall mean any road which accepts traffic from local streets
and conducts it to arterials. "Collector streets" are classified as
"major" or "minor" based on the volume of traffic carried.
Commission
shall mean the Planning Commission of the Town of New Milford,
Litchfield County, Connecticut.
Engineer
shall mean the Town Engineer or the Director of Public Works
of the Town of New Milford, Connecticut.
Existing contours
shall mean those contours reflecting existing physical features
of an area of land, based on approximate United States Coast and Geodetic
Survey mean sea level datum.
Highway
shall mean street and shall be that portion between street
lines.
Local service street
shall mean any road which provides access to property abutting
its public right-of-way. Through traffic movement is a secondary function
of the local street.
Performance guaranty bond
shall mean a surety bond furnished by a subdivider or contractor
conditioned upon the performance of work in accordance with the provisions
of an approved proposal or contract. The surety on said bond shall
be a surety company authorized to do business in the State of Connecticut.
Right-of-way
shall mean the land included between those street lines dedicated
by deed for highway purposes.
Road
shall mean the traveled way, that distance between curbs
or gutter lines.
Selectmen
shall mean the Board of Selectmen of the Town of New Milford.
Selectmen's agent
shall mean the Director of Public Works or Inspector appointed
by the Director of Public Works of the Town of New Milford.
Street line
shall mean the limits of that portion dedicated for highway
purposes.
Subbase
shall mean that course of material placed directly above
the prepared subgrade as specified.
Subgrade
shall mean existing ground surface prepared as specified
and brought to grade as indicated to receive a subbase course.
Surety
shall mean that corporate body which is bound with and for
the subdivider or contractor, who is primarily liable to the Town
of New Milford and which engages to be responsible for the subdivider
or contractor for his payment of all debts covering all materials
and labor used or employed in the execution of the contract or proposal
and for his acceptable performance of the work for which he has contracted
or proposed.
Town
shall mean the Town of New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut.
Watercourse
shall mean any channel for the drainage of water, such as
a canal, river, brook, stream or swale.
Watershed
shall mean that portion of land surrounding a watercourse
or paved road which sheds its ground and/or surface water into or
onto the watercourse or paved road. Final decision as to the limits
of any given watershed shall rest with the Selectman or his duly appointed
agent.
Wearing surface
shall mean that visible section of the roadway which comes
in direct contact with vehicular movement.
[Ord. of 6-15-1978, § 3; Ord. of 12-8-2006]
(a) Compliance with specifications. Construction methods
and materials shall comply with the latest Connecticut Department
of Transportation specifications for roads and bridges.
(b) Preparation of subgrade for roads. No gravel shall
be placed on the prepared subgrade until the Director of Public Works
or his agent has approved the condition of the subgrade.
(c) Slopes. Slopes shall be no steeper than 2:1 and
loamed to a minimum depth of four inches, rolled, fertilized and seeded
with the following seed mixture, or an equal or as required by the
Selectmen:
(1)
Forty-two percent domestic rye grass.
(2)
Twenty-five percent creeping red fescue.
(3)
Twelve percent perennial rye grass.
(4)
Nine percent Kentucky blue grass.
(6)
Two percent white Dutch clover.
(d) Gravel subbase for roads. The subbase shall consist
of at least 12 inches of bank-run gravel constructed in accord with
state specifications. Where ledgerock is encountered, it shall be
excavated a minimum of 18 inches and backfilled with gravel subbase.
The holder of the road permit may be required to have a qualified
testing laboratory perform at least three tests or one every 250 feet,
whichever is greater. Any deficient area shall be corrected and retested
at the expense of the holder of the road permit.
(e) Base course for roads. The base course shall be
in accordance with the specifications herein.
(f) Wearing surface. The wearing surface of all roads
will be bituminous concrete pavement, constructed in two courses to
the thicknesses indicated herein. A minimum thickness of pavement
shall be three inches after compaction. A higher-type pavement may
be constructed with the permission of the Director of Public Works.
No pavement may be installed until approval is given by the Director
of Public Works. Any area of a road or driveway found to be deficient
in compacted thickness by more than 1/2 inch shall be corrected with
a one-inch overlay, provided that an acceptable grade and cross section
can be achieved. At the ends of the overlay, the original pavement
shall be cut back sufficiently to allow placement of the overlay.
Feathering shall not be allowed. The Director of Public Works must
be notified a minimum of 48 hours prior to the installation of each
course of bituminous concrete and approval received before installation.
(g) Drainage. All drainage pipe shall be at least 15
inches in diameter except as noted below and installed with a minimum
cover of three feet or, if less, as required by the gauge or class
of pipe with the approval of the Director of Public Works. All installation
and construction shall be to the line and grade indicated on submitted
drawings. Underdrain pipe and outlets shall be of a size and location
as determined by the Director of Public Works. Drainage pipe shall
be laid along the greater cut or shallower fill side of the road.
Curb-type catch basins, various types of endwalls, CL-type catch basins,
manholes, wing-type endwalls and underdrain shall be constructed according
to the dimensions, methods and materials shown in detail on Connecticut
Department of Transportation Standard Sheets.
(h) Inspections; curbing.
(1)
After drainage pipe is installed and prior to any backfilling,
the subdivider and/or contractor shall notify the Department of Public
Works. The Director of Public Works, or his representative, shall
meet with the subdivider's and/or contractor's engineer
to inspect the drainage. The Director of Public Works shall direct
that any required changes be made and shall reinspect the drainage
system prior to backfilling. The Director of Public Works shall notify
the First Selectman and/or Planning Commission of his inspections.
(2)
After the fine grading and prior to the application of the first
course of bituminous concrete, the subdivider and/or contractor shall
notify the Department of Public Works. The Director of Public Works,
or his representative, shall meet with the subdivider's and/or
contractor's engineer to inspect the roadway. The Director of
Public Works shall direct that any required changes be made and shall
reinspect the roadway prior to the application of the first course
of bituminous concrete. The Director of Public Works shall notify
the First Selectman and/or Planning Commission of his inspections.
(3)
Curbing is required on all roads unless otherwise designated.
At the time of this inspection those areas not requiring curbing shall
be designated by the Director of Public Works. Curb must be installed
prior to the second course of bituminous concrete.
(4)
The Director of Public Works or his/her designee shall conduct progress inspections of all roads intended to be dedicated to the Town while such roads are under construction to ensure compliance with the terms of this article. The inspections shall consist of and be conducted at particular stages of construction as follows: [See current §
18-25(h) and
Table I for existing standards.]
(i) Construction sequence.
(1)
Before fine grading is started, all service lines from underground
utilities shall have been installed to every lot in the proposed subdivision.
When all underground work is completed, the final grade shall be established
and the pavement applied. Curbing, when required, shall then be installed
throughout and shoulders fine graded as a final operation.
(2)
Where utilities are existing or to be installed, the holder
of the road permit shall raise all manholes, valve boxes, etc., up
to the final road grade. These utility appurtenances shall be clearly
visible and shall be so set that a true line and grade is maintained.
(3)
In all cases, the installation of all utilities within the right-of-way
shall be under the direction of the Director of Public Works. Service
lines shall be run to each and every lot at the time of initial installation
of the distribution main. Said service to extend to a point at least
24 inches outside the curbline and shall be terminated with a valve
and curb box, in the case of gas and water service, or sanitary sewer
where designated by the Sewer Commission.
(j) Bridges. Where bridges are to be built, they shall
be designated to satisfy the requirements of H-20-S-16 wheel loading.
Drawings and design calculations shall be submitted to the Director
of Public Works and shall be certified by a professional engineer,
registered in the State of Connecticut.
(k) Termination of work. Upon suspension or completion
of the work or any portion thereof, the subdivider or contractor shall
remove from all public or private property all temporary structures,
tools and equipment, rubbish or waste materials resulting from his
operations. All ditches shall be filled, all sewers, drains, catch
basins and manholes cleaned and flushed, streets, walks, curbs and
other structures cleaned and repaired and the whole work area left
in a neat and clean condition.
(l) Sight distance. Adequate sight distance at all intersections
shall be provided. The holder of the road permit shall regrade all
areas falling within the sight distance triangle. He shall remove
trees, brush, stones, etc., and other objects designated by the Director
of Public Works or his agent so that clear, unobstructed sight distance
is obtained.
(m) Unaccepted streets.
(1)
All private roads in existence at the date of the passage of
this article and submitted to the town for acceptance shall conform
to the road ordinance in effect at the time of construction.
(2)
If a private road was constructed prior to a road ordinance,
the following minimum specifications shall apply:
a.
Minimum right-of-way: 40 feet.
b.
Minimum pavement width: 18 feet.
(3)
All other specifications shall follow this article or as directed
by the Director of Public Works.
[Ord. of 6-15-1978, § 5; Ord. of 10-13-2006; Ord. of 12-8-2006]
(a) Guaranty bonds.
(1)
Town highway or right-of-way. All road construction or reconstruction
and all excavation on or under a town highway or right-of-way shall
be guaranteed by the posting of a performance guaranty bond running
in favor of the town or by the presentation of a certified check payable
to the town in an amount equal to 100% of the cost of the work. The
cost of such work shall be estimated by a licensed professional engineer,
and reviewed by the Director of Public Works. For any road improvements
performed under contract with the town, such performance guaranty
bond or certified check shall be filed with the First Selectman.
(2)
Subdivisions. All road construction, including drainage and
other improvements, within a proposed subdivision shall be guaranteed
by the posting of a performance guaranty bond in an amount equal to
100% of the cost of the work. Cost estimates shall be submitted to
the Director of Public Works and to the Planning Commission for review
and approval. The performance guaranty bond shall be filed with the
Planning Commission prior to final subdivision approval.
(3)
All performance guaranty bonds shall be written for a term not
to exceed two years as shall be determined by either the First Selectman
in the case of work performed on or under a town highway or right-of-way;
or by the Planning Commission in the case of work performed within
a subdivision. The First Selectman and/or Planning Commission may
permit an extension of any performance guaranty bond to allow for
the completion of the wearing surface of a road, provided that the
surety consents and agrees to such extension. All performance guaranty
bonds shall be approved by Town Counsel.
(4)
After certification by the Director of Public Works that drainage
has been installed or a section of the road has been completed and
upon the request of the principal, performance guaranty bonds may
be reduced with the approval of the First Selectman and/or Planning
Commission as the case may be.
(5)
In the case of road construction, reconstruction and/or excavation
on or under a town highway or right-of-way, no performance guaranty
bond shall be released until such work has been certified complete
by a licensed professional engineer and the town highway or right-of-way
has been restored to a condition satisfactory to the Director of Public
Works.
(6)
In the case of road construction, including drainage and other
improvements, within a proposed subdivision, no performance guaranty
bond shall be released until the subdivider's professional engineer
has certified the completion of all improvements in accordance with
the requirements of this article and until acceptance of the improvements
by the town and receipt and approval of a maintenance bond.
(b) Permits.
(1)
Road permit. No road work on existing town highways will be
undertaken until a road permit has been issued by the First Selectman
specifying all work to be done. A performance guarantee bond may be
required for this work except for public utility companies which are
under the Public Utility Control Authority.
(2)
Excavation permit. No person, firm or corporation, other than
town employees while in the actual performance of their employment,
shall excavate on or under any town highway or right-of-way before
first filing a written application with the First Selectman and receiving
a permit therefor; said written application shall contain the exact
location of the proposed excavation, the purpose of the work, the
time when the work will commence and terminate and the party to perform
the work.
(3)
Other permits. No person, firm or corporation shall obstruct,
divert or interfere with any existing town highway water drain or
runoff; or intentionally deposit, accumulate or burn any rubbish,
leaves, grass clippings or other substance or material upon any town
highway; or utilize any portion of any town street, road, sidewalk
or right-of-way for the purpose of storing or depositing, for any
period of time, any material to be used in the construction or repair
of any building or other work; without having first obtained the written
permission of the First Selectman.
(c) Inspection of work and material testing. The road permit shall indicate required inspections at certain stages of construction in accordance with §
18-24(h), and it shall become the responsibility of the holder of the road permit to submit requests for these inspections. In no case shall any structure, pipe, conduit or other improvement be backfilled without the inspection and approval of the Director of Public Works or his agent. The Director of Public Works or his agent may require testing of any or all materials used in the construction of roadways and all appurtenant structures. Testing shall be conducted on the site, at the place of manufacture or at an approved testing laboratory; any and all expenses for such testing shall be directly borne by the holder of the road contract. Failure of any material to meet the required specifications will be cause for rejection of said material.
(1)
In addition to the applicable base application fees, the subdivider
and/or road developer shall pay the Town of New Milford $300 for each
lot for which approval is requested in the application, for engineering
review of the proposed plan and a per-inspection assessment for road
construction inspections. The New Milford Planning Commission shall
be and is hereby empowered and authorized to adopt such fees to be
paid to the Town of New Milford. Engineering review and road inspection
fees shall be payable at the time the application is filed. No application
shall be considered complete unless such fees shall have been paid.
If the application is denied prior to engineering review, or no engineering
review expenses are incurred and no road inspections are conducted,
the engineering review and road inspection fees shall be refunded
to the applicant after the expiration of all appeal periods.
(d) Maintenance during performance guaranty bond period. During any stage of construction, the subdivider shall maintain
all roads, including drainage and other improvements, and shall remove
snow and ice when necessary.
(e) Forfeit of performance guaranty bond. If the proposed
work has not been completed within the contract period, a two-year
period, or within an agreed upon extension period, the Selectman shall
recommend that the guaranty be in forfeit.
(f) Road maintenance bond.
(1)
Except for snow and ice control, the subdivider shall keep and
maintain the completed road and improvements in good repair for a
period of one year from the date of final acceptance by the town.
Prior to final acceptance of the road improvements, the subdivider
shall file with the First Selectman a surety bond in a form acceptable
to Town Counsel, First Selectman and the Director of Public Works
in an amount of 10% of the value of the work accepted. The term of
this bond shall be one year from the date of final acceptance.
(2)
During the required one-year maintenance period, the subdivider
shall, when notified by the Director of Public Works or his agent,
promptly, and at the subdivider's expense, repair all defects
and/or failures in the construction and operation of roads, structures
and appurtenances which may occur during said period. Should the subdivider
fail to remedy such defects within a reasonable time, the town may,
upon written notice to the subdivider and surety, cause the required
repairs to be made and bill the subdivider or surety company for the
cost of such repair work.
(3)
No road bond shall be fully released until the road is accepted
by the Town Council and the Planning Commission notified of such acceptance
in accordance with the provisions of the Charter. Nothing herein shall
impair the right of the Planning Commission to release portions of
or reduce the bonds as construction is completed and recommended for
acceptance by the Department of Public Works.
(g) As-built drawings. Upon completion of construction
and prior to acceptance or release of performance guaranty, as-built
drawings certified by a registered land surveyor shall be submitted
for approval in accordance with the requirements of this article.
Such drawings shall be in accord with Class A-2 (Connecticut Technical
Council), shall be entitled "As-Built" and shall note any deviation
from the original plans.
(h) Warranty deeds. Upon completion of construction
and prior to acceptance or release of the performance guaranty bond,
a warranty deed or deeds covering all roads and rights-of-way, drainage
or other easements shall be granted to the Town of New Milford and
delivered to the First Selectman, together with the as-built drawings.
The grantor shall also furnish the town with a certificate of title
for the land described in the warranty deed acceptable to Town Counsel
and signed by a member of the Bar of the State of Connecticut. The
standard title of the Connecticut Bar Association shall govern.
(i) Approval and acceptance by the town.
(1)
No road shall be accepted by the Town Council unless it has
been so inspected, the fees paid and final approval given first by
the Department of Public Works and by the Planning Commission. The
Department of Public Works shall notify the Planning Commission, Wetlands
Officer, Mayor's office and Town Attorney of such final approval
before the acceptance is considered by the Town Council.
(2)
No road shall be accepted into the New Milford road system between
November 1 and April 15 of the following year.
(j) Penalties for violation. In addition to all other
legal and equitable remedies available to accomplish enforcement of
this article, any person, firm, corporation or agent thereof, violating
or assisting in the violation of any of the provisions hereof, shall
be fined no more than $100 for each offense. Each day of violation
shall be deemed a separate offense.
(k) Separability. In the event that any part of this
Road Ordinance is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court
of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall be limited to those
provisions which are expressly stated in the opinion to be invalid
or unenforceable and all other provisions of this article shall continue
to be separately and fully effective.
(l) Applicability. This article shall apply to all roads
which are submitted to the town for acceptance except those which
have been approved by the Selectmen for construction or are now under
construction in accordance with the Road Ordinance of the Town of
New Milford, dated June 1, 1962, as amended; and to activities approved
under the Ordinance Governing Certain Activities on Town Road, Highway
and Sidewalks, dated April 1, 1966.