[Adopted 10-8-1985 by Ord. No. 1985-2, approved 10-8-1985]
Every owner of property in the Borough shall, on 30 days' notice
from the Borough Council, construct or reconstruct a sidewalk which
shall conform to all applicable requirements of this Article in front
of or alongside of such property. It shall be the duty of the owner
or owners of the lots of ground respectively fronting on the streets
of this Borough to grade, pave, curb and gutter the side or footwalks
abutting thereon, to repair and keep the same at all times in a safe
and passable condition and to relay the same when unsafe or worn out.
Every owner of property in the Borough shall, on 30 days' notice
from Council, repair or cause to be repaired the sidewalk, in the
manner stipulated in such notice, in front of or alongside such property,
according to the specifications provided for in this Article.
Every property owner, upon his own initiative, and without notice
from any Borough authority, may construct, reconstruct or repair a
sidewalk in front of or along his property, provided that such owner
shall first make application to the Borough for a permit, as provided
for in this Article, and shall conform to the specifications as also
herein provided.
It shall be the duty and responsibility of the Borough to determine,
in the case of any individual property, whether or not the sidewalk
shall be constructed, reconstructed or repaired, and if so, the specific
part or parts thereof to be reconstructed or repaired. The Borough
may, at any time during the course of the work or constructing or
repairing any sidewalk or at the request of the property owner, visit
the site of such work to ascertain whether such work is being done
according to the specifications as provided by this Article.
No curb or sidewalk construction, reconstruction or repair shall
be performed by or for any property owner unless the property owner
shall first have obtained from the Borough Secretary a permit for
the work. A charge of $5 shall be made for this permit, and it will
be a violation to do any work without having first secured the permit.
When securing the permit, the applicant shall supply the following
information:
Scored openings shall be left around all poles, trees, fire
hydrants, light standards or any other structure within the sidewalk
area. No public service curb or sidewalk boxes for access to underground
facilities shall be left below the sidewalk level, but they shall
be brought to the grade of the new walk. The Borough will furnish
and set any inlet frames that might be needed in any sidewalk for
storm drainage purposes.
A.
Materials and driveway entrances.
(1)
All sidewalks and curbs constructed in the Borough shall consist
of a properly mixed concrete comprised of one part cement, two parts
sand and two parts crushed stone. A two-inch base composed of crushed
stone, crushed slag or cinders shall be placed under all sidewalks.
Sidewalks not subject to vehicular traffic shall be four inches thick
and will not require reinforcing. Driveways and other locations subject
to vehicular traffic shall be constructed of concrete six inches thick,
reinforced with six-by-six six-gauge welded wire reinforcing. Curb
edges and joints shall be finished with an edging tool, and all sidewalk
surfaces shall be broom finished.
(2)
Curbs at driveway entrances shall be depressed to a height of not
more than 1 1/2 inches above the adjacent street and will slope
to the grade of the adjoining sidewalk within a distance of 18 inches
from the face of the curb.
B.
Width of pavement. Where applicable, the width of the pavement on
all existing streets in the Borough and streets in any new development
from the date of this Article shall be at least three feet wide and
shall conform to existing sidewalks in width.
C.
Slope. All sidewalks shall slope toward the curb at a rate of one-fourth
inch per foot.
D.
Curbs.
(1)
Freestanding or deep curbs shall be constructed of plain cement concrete.
The top of the curb shall be seven inches wide and will extend not
less than six inches or more than eight inches above the pavement.
The total height of the curb shall be 18 inches. The face of the curb
shall be sloped so that the width at the pavement is eight inches.
The exposed surfaces, front and back, shall be formed to present a
smooth surface.
(2)
Integral curb and sidewalk shall be constructed of plain cement concrete.
The top of the curb shall be scored at a distance of seven inches
from the face. The face of the curb shall extend not less than six
inches or more than eight inches above the pavement. The total height
of the curb shall be 12 inches, and the bottom of the curb shall be
not less than eight inches. The face of the curb shall be formed to
present a smooth exposed surface.
E.
Gutters. On those streets in the Borough having gutters along the
curbs thereof, or on such streets as the Council shall direct that
gutters be constructed, the gutters shall be constructed of concrete
and be located on the outside and adjoining the curb at such grade
and depth as may be determined by the Borough Engineer.
F.
Driveways. In locations where driveways are constructed across drainage
ditches within the right-of-way of Borough streets, property owners
will be required to place pipe beneath the driveway to assure the
flow of stormwater in the ditch. The size of pipe installed will be
approved by the Borough Engineer.
G.
Joints. Construction joints shall be formed by scoring the pavement
to a depth of one inch at intervals not to exceed five feet. Expansion
joints shall be formed of one-half-inch premolded expansion joint
material at intervals not to exceed 30 feet.
H.
Adjacent property. If the new sidewalk is higher than the adjacent
property owner's sidewalk, an expansion joint should be put in. A
gradual slope should be put in on the adjacent property using concrete
material to create a smooth even walking surface.
Upon the neglect of any property owner to comply with any of
the requirements provided in this Article, the Borough may, after
notice, cause the grading, paving, repairing, curbing and/or guttering
to be done at the cost of such owner and may collect the cost thereof
and 10% additional, together with all charges and expenses from such
owner, and may file a municipal claim therefor or collect the same
by action in assumpsit as provided by the Borough Code.
[Amended 6-9-1987 by Ord.
No. 1987-1, approved 6-9-1987]
In addition to the enforcement provision set forth in § 121-11 above, any person who violates any provisions of this Article shall, upon conviction thereof by summary proceedings, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $300 and costs, and, in default of said fine and costs, to undergo imprisonment for a period of not in excess of 30 days; provided, however, that if the District Justice determines that the defendant is without the financial means to pay the fines and costs immediately or in a single remittance, such defendant shall be permitted to pay the fines or costs in installments and over such periods of time as the District Justice deems to be just.
