[Adopted 5-17-2004 STM]
A.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13a-149 of the Connecticut
General Statutes or any other General Statutes, or any other General
Statute or Special Act, the Town of Putnam shall not be liable to
any person injured in person or property caused by the presence of
ice or snow on a public sidewalk unless the Town of Putnam is the
owner or the person in possession and control of land abutting such
sidewalk, other than land used as a highway or street, provided that
the Town of Putnam shall be liable for its affirmative acts with respect
to such sidewalk.
B.
The owner or person in possession and control of land abutting a
public sidewalk shall have the same duty of care with respect to the
presence of ice or snow on such sidewalk abutting his property as
the municipality had prior to the effective date of this section,
adopted pursuant to the provisions of Public Act No. 81-340 (C.G.S.
§ 7-163a) and shall be liable to persons injured in person
or property where a breach of said duty is the proximate cause of
said injury.
C.
No action to recover damages for injury to the person or to property
caused by the presence of ice or snow on a public sidewalk against
a person who owns or is in possession and control of land abutting
a public sidewalk shall be brought but within two years from the date
when the injury is first sustained.
A.
The owner of any building or land bordering on any street within
the Town of Putnam where there is a sidewalk, graded, paved or planked,
shall remove or cause to be removed therefrom any and all snow, sleet
or ice to a width of at least 36 inches within 36 hours after the
same shall have fallen, been deposited, found or formed.
B.
In case the snow, sleet or ice on such sidewalk shall be frozen so
hard that it cannot be removed, such owner of the building or lot
of land, as aforesaid, shall cause such sidewalk to be made safe and
convenient or passable by covering any and all such snow, sleet or
ice with sand or other suitable synthetic materials within the time
limit specified above, and shall as soon thereafter as the weather
shall permit thoroughly clean such sidewalk.
C.
Penalties for offenses.
(1)
The owner of any building or lot of land whose duty it is to clear the sidewalk adjacent thereto who shall violate any of the provisions of Subsections A and B, or refuse or neglect to comply with the same, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined the sum of $25 for each offense, and each and every day thereafter shall be deemed a separate offense.
D.
The owner of any building standing upon or so near the line of a
street that snowslides or ice from the roof may endanger public travel
shall, within a reasonable time after the termination or abatement
of a snowstorm, but in any case within 36 hours, cause the snow to
be removed from the roof thereon in such manner as will not endanger
travelers.
E.
No owner, occupant, lessee, or other person in charge of any building
or land abutting any street or highway within the Town of Putnam shall
deposit or cause to be deposited any snow, sleet or ice which falls
upon such building or land in any portion of the traveled right-of-way
of the street, highway or sidewalk. Every person or corporation violating
any of the provisions of this subsection shall be fined not more than
$50.
F.
The appropriate law enforcement agency shall enforce the provisions
of this article.
G.
The Mayor or his designee may, but shall not be required to, cause
the removal of snow, ice, sleet and debris from any sidewalk wherein
it has remained for 36 hours after the conclusion of any storm. The
cost of such removal shall be liened against the property owner pursuant
to the provisions of Section 7-148 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
A.
The Director of Public Works shall have power and authority from
time to time, as public necessity and convenience may require, to
order the adjoining property owners to designate and fix the course,
width, height, and level of any and all sidewalks in and upon the
Town streets and highways and may, when the public necessity and convenience
so require, procure and set in a proper manner such curbing as may
be deemed suitable and proper for the location, and shall construct
the gutters to correspond therewith, and may thereupon order the owner
or owners of the land and buildings fronting on such proposed sidewalk,
at their own expense, to raise, level or make such sidewalks on their
respective frontages according to the course, width, height and level
designated as aforesaid.
B.
Property owners may also be required to flag, concrete, or pave the
same in such manner as such Director of Public Works shall direct,
provided such direction is in conformity with sound engineering practices
and the provisions of the Town of Putnam Planning and Zoning Regulations.
All persons shall maintain the sidewalk abutting or adjoining their
property free of vegetation and in a safe and passable condition free
of cracks and other obstructions or dangers to pedestrians.
