The purpose of this article shall be to preserve the public
peace and good order in the Town, to contribute to the public safety
and welfare of its people and to contribute to the safe conveyance
of its people over the streets and sidewalks of the Town by establishing
certain regulations for the removal of snow and ice from the sidewalks
of the Town that are consistent with the rights and privileges of
other residents of the Town.
Every owner or occupant of a house, building, or lot of land
abutting a sidewalk whether improved or vacant, along a local, county
or state highway shall keep the entirety of the sidewalk free from
snow and ice and, when reasonably required to enable persons to walk
with safety, shall maintain the sidewalks with ashes, sand or other
material serving to counteract ice. Additionally, no portion of a
sidewalk shall be obstructed in any fashion and such sidewalk also
shall be kept free of dirt, weed and all debris.
Snow shall be removed from the entire sidewalk within 12 hours
after any fall of snow or any depositing of plowed snow occurring
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., or if occurring between
the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., then within 12 hours after the
expiration of such period.
The Town may, but shall not be obligated to, clear any sidewalk of snow and ice and/or remove obstructions if it has not been cleared within the time required in §
195-20 above; in that event, any cost incurred by the Town may be levied against the real property benefited and the sum so levied shall remain a lien against the real property until paid or satisfied in the same manner as unpaid real property taxes. Prior to imposing such a levy against the real property, the owner(s) of record shall be provided written notice by first-class mail forwarded to the owner's address as it appears upon the assessment roll of the Town; the notice shall advise the recipient of the amount of the charge and of an opportunity to be heard and object before the Town Board at a date to be designated, which date shall be not less than 30 days after the mailing of the notice.
The owner or occupant of premises abutting a sidewalk along any public street in the Town shall keep the sidewalk in good repair and clear of dirt, dust, debris and obstruction; upon default, the Town may, but shall not be obligated to, repair, clean or remove obstructions from said sidewalks, and any cost incurred by the Town may be levied upon the benefited premises in the same manner as prescribed in §
195-21 hereinabove.
Violations of this article shall be punishable by a civil penalty
of $50 for each infraction; each day's continuation of the violation
shall constitute a separate infraction punishable by a separate civil
penalty. These penalties shall be in addition to, and not an alternative
to, the Town's ability to levy upon real property to recover
its costs of correcting violations.