[Adopted 11-11-1957 by Ord. No. 360 (Ch. 21, Part 3, of the 2006 Code of Ordinances)]
From and after the passage of this article, every person owning ground fronting or abutting upon any street in said Borough, which is or shall be brought to the established grade, shall grade and pave the ground, and construct curbs and gutters at the edge of sidewalks, in accordance with the provisions of this article, and with the established lines and grades to be furnished by the Borough Engineer, within 30 days after receiving the notice provided for in § 536-17 of this article, or after service of such notice as hereinafter provided.
It shall be the duty of all owners of ground fronting or abutting on any street in the Borough of Folcroft to keep their sidewalks in good repair and passable condition, and when notified so to do, they shall make all necessary repairs within 30 days after receipt of a notice as is required by § 536-17 of this article or after the service of such a notice as hereinafter provided. That when sidewalks are in a dangerous condition, they shall be temporarily repaired and rendered safe within 24 hours after the receipt of a notice to that effect or after the service of such a notice served as hereinafter provided, which notice shall be signed by the Secretary of the Borough Council of the Borough of Folcroft, and upon failure of the owner or owners to comply with the notice, the Highway Committee shall have the necessary temporary repairs made and the proper Borough authorities shall collect the cost of the work and the materials, together with a penalty of 10% of such cost, from the owner or owners of such ground as such claims are by law recoverable.
When any street is or shall be brought to the established grade, and it is found that the sidewalks, curbs and gutters already constructed do not conform to the established grade or width, or with the requirements of this article, it shall be the duty of the owner or owners of the ground fronting or abutting on such sidewalks, to repave or correct such sidewalks, curbs and gutters in accordance with the proper lines and grades and with the provisions of this article, within 30 days after the receipt of a notice to that effect or after the service of such notice served as hereinafter provided.
All notices directing and requiring the grading, paving, repaving, correcting or repairing of sidewalks or the constructing, correcting or repairing of curbs and gutters at the edge of sidewalks shall be printed or written and shall specify the width to be paved and the location of such proposed sidewalk, and shall be served upon the owner of ground and premises to which such notice refers, if said owner be a resident of said Borough, and if said owner is not a resident of the Borough of Folcroft, then said notice shall be served on the agent or tenant of said owner, or upon the occupant of said ground and premises. If said owner have no agent or tenant or there be no occupant of said ground and premises, then by printed or written notice tacked upon the premises.
All sidewalks shall be constructed of concrete four feet in width and one four-inch course in depth, except where a common drive crosses the sidewalk, in which area it shall be five inches in depth. The concrete shall be constructed on a prepared subgrade in one course.
A. 
Grades. The forms shall be set to a grade having a rise of 1/4 inch to the foot, above and at right angles to the top of the curb.
B. 
Forms. Outside forms shall be of wood or metal of the depth of the concrete, straight, free from warp and of sufficient strength when staked to resist the pressure of the concrete without springing. If of wood, they shall be of two inches' approved section, or if of metal, they shall be of approved section and shall have a flat surface on top of no less then 1 3/4 inches. The forms shall be jointed neatly and tightly and staked securely to line and grade and shall be cleaned thoroughly and greased or scraped before any concrete is placed against them.
C. 
Joint filler. The filler to be used in the transverse joints in the pavement shall consist of an approved prepared tar or asphalt filler having a thickness of 1/2 inch and a depth of not less than one inch more than the depth of the pavement.
D. 
Excavation. Excavation shall be made in the proper dimensions and elevations, making necessary allowance for forms and other operations required to complete the concrete work. All soft and spongy material shall be removed and replaced with suitable firm material, which shall be compacted to conform in contour and firmness to the surrounding subgrade material.
E. 
Materials. Cement shall be normal strength, air-entrained Portland cement, ASTM designation C150, latest revision.
(1) 
Coarse aggregate. Coarse aggregate shall consist of washed, graded, gravel, or crushed stone, having clean, hard, strong, durable and uncoated particles. Coarse aggregate shall range in size from fine to coarse in accordance with Pennsylvania State Department of Highways Specification No. 2.
(2) 
Fine aggregate. All sand shall be washed and screened material and shall consist of approved inert graded particles, having clean, hard, strong, durable uncoated grains. Deleterious materials shall not exceed quantities specified by ASTM Standard Designation C33. Fine aggregate for concrete work shall be properly graded from fine to course in accordance with the following requirements:
Passing
3/8 inch
mesh
100%
Passing
No. 4
mesh
94% to 100%
Passing
No. 8
mesh
80% to 90%
Passing
No. 10
mesh
77% to 88%
Passing
No. 16
mesh
65% to 80%
Passing
No. 20
mesh
55% to 70%
Passing
No. 50
mesh
10% to 22%
Passing
No. 100
mesh
0% to 07%
F. 
Expansion joints. Expansion joints shall be placed approximately 24 feet apart and shall be formed during the placing of the concrete by securely staking an iron bulkhead on lines specified for slab joints. The prepared joint filler shall be placed against the bulkhead before the concrete is deposited against it. No expansion joints shall be placed within two feet of either side of any service pipe lateral.
G. 
Slab joints. The slab or scored divided blocks shall have an area of 16 square feet. The block division shall extend one-half deep in the thickness of the slab. They shall be made in a straight line at right angles to the edges of the slab on tangent and on radial lines where the pavement is laid on a curve.
H. 
Measuring. All materials shall be accurately measured by volume. The cement shall be measured by volume. The cement shall be measured as packed by the manufacturer, a sack containing not less than 94 pounds being considered one cubic foot. Fine and coarse aggregate shall be measured loose. The contractor shall furnish and use an approved water measuring and discharging device, also boxes of such dimensions as will give, when filled and struck, the exact volume of aggregate required for the concrete specified.
I. 
Mixing. All concrete shall be mixed in a batch mixer of approved type. The volume of the mixed material used per batch shall not exceed the manufacturer's rated capacity of the drum in cubic feet of mixed material. Only enough concrete shall be mixed that will be placed within 45 minutes. The ingredients of the concrete shall be mixed to the specified consistency. No materials shall be permitted to enter the drums until all the preceding batch has been discharged. The time of mixing shall be from the time all materials, including the water are in the mixer and before any part of the batch is discharged. The time of mixing shall be not less than 1 1/4 minutes. No concrete shall be mixed while the air temperature is at or below 35° F.
J. 
Proportioning and mixing. Water-cement ratios and approximate proportions of aggregate for medium consistency normal Portland cement concrete.
(1) 
Compressive strength at 28 days.
Design Pounds
per Square Inch
Minimum Laboratory Test Pounds
per Square Inch
2,800 - Water Cement Ratio
2,750 - Approximate Bags Cement
Ratio by Volume
Gallons per Bag of Cement
Per Cubic Yard Concrete
0.93
7.00
5.1
(2) 
Approximate proportions of cement to surface of dry aggregates by volume (sum of fine and coarse aggregates measured separately): 1:6.
(3) 
The approximate proportions in the above table are for concrete of medium consistency (five-inch slump), and the quantities of cement should be changed for different consistencies adding approximately one-eighth bag for each one-inch slump greater than five inches.
(4) 
All concrete covered by this specification shall develop at 28 days, a compressive strength as above specified.
K. 
Retempering. Retempering of concrete which has partially hardened, that is remixing with additional water, shall not be permitted.
L. 
Placing and finishing. Concrete shall be placed immediately after mixing. It shall be tampered and struck off with a template and shall be floated with a wooden float until the surface has a true contour. Care shall be taken to not bring to the surface an excess of water and fine sand by over-finishing. All joints shall be edged to a radius of 1/8 inch. The surface edges of each slab shall be rounded to a radius of about 1/4 inch.
M. 
Protection. The finished pavement shall be protected from the hot sun, rain, high winds, frost and trespassers for at least 24 hours after the concrete is placed, and as much longer thereafter as may be required.
N. 
Curbs. The specifications for curbing shall conform to the specifications for sidewalk except as herein provided. All curbing shall be 18 inches in depth, six inches in width at the top, and eight inches in width at the bottom. All curbing shall have a batter of one inch from the top of the curbing to the surface of the gutter.
(1) 
Forming joints. The curbing shall be constructed in uniform lengths or sections of 10 feet, except where shorter sections are necessary for closures, but no section shall be less than four feet. These sections shall be separated by sheet steel templates set perpendicular to the face and top of the curbing. These templates shall be 1/8 of an inch in thickness, of the width of the curbing, and not less than two inches longer than the depth of the curbing. The templates shall be set carefully during the placing of concrete and allowed to remain in place wherever possible until the concrete has set sufficiently to hold its shape, but shall be removed while the forms are still in place.
(2) 
Expansion joints. Expansion joints shall be placed approximately 50 feet apart. They shall be 1/2 inch in width and composed of a suitable material that will not become soft and run in hot weather or become brittle in cold weather.
(3) 
Finishing. The curbing shall be spaded sufficiently to obtain a smooth, even finish. The edge of the face shall be rounded to a radius of not more than 3/4 inch while the concrete is still soft. The forms shall be removed within 24 hours after the concrete has been placed. Minor defects shall be filled with mortar, composed of one part Portland cement and two parts of fine aggregate, which shall be applied with a wooden float. Plastering shall not be permitted. The top of face of the curbing from the top of eight inches below the top shall be finished while the concrete is still green by frequently wetting a soft brick or a wood block and rubbing the surface until it is smooth. After the concrete has been rubbed smooth, it shall be rubbed again until a uniform color is produced, using in place of water a thin grout composed of one part of Portland cement and one part of approved sand.
O. 
Granite curbs.
(1) 
All curbs shall consist of approved first-quality granite having a width at the top of four inches and the bottom shall be not less than two inches wider than the top. The top surface shall be pointed straight. The face shall be dressed and the ends cut square to a depth of not less than six inches below the top. The top and dressed face shall be free from depressions, projections or other irregularities and defects. The curb shall be 16 inches in depth, and have a minimum length of four feet.
(2) 
Excavation shall be made to the required depth and the subgrade or base upon which the curb is to be set shall be compacted to a firm even surface.
(3) 
The curb shall be set on edge and the top shall conform to the lines and grades given. The bottom of the curb shall be supported at all joints by concrete chairs.
(4) 
The joints in granite curb shall not exceed 1/4 inch for a depth of six inches.
(5) 
All joints shall be pointed and made watertight from the base to the top of the curbing with a still mortar composed of one part cement and two parts sand.
P. 
Stone curbs.
(1) 
All curbs shall consist of approved first-quality blue stone having a width at the top of three inches and the bottom shall be not less than two inches wider than the top.
(2) 
The top surface shall be pointed straight. The face shall be dressed and the ends cut square to a depth of not less than six inches below the top.
(3) 
The top and dressed face shall be free from depressions projections, or other irregularities and defects. The curbs shall be 16 inches in depth.
(4) 
Excavation shall be made to the required depth and the subgrade or base upon which the curb is to be set shall be compacted to a firm even surface.
(5) 
The curb shall be set on edge and the top shall conform to the lines and grades given. The bottom of the curb shall be supported at all joints by concrete chairs. The joints in blue stone curb shall not exceed 1/4 inch for a depth of six inches.
The width of all sidewalks in said Borough shall be four feet. The paved portion of the sidewalk to be placed in the center of the same, and those parts not occupied by the paving shall be brought to the proper Borough grade and consist of a grass plot, the grass for the entire width to be maintained at a height not to exceed four inches.
[Amended 12-10-1990 by Ord. No. 835]
No sidewalk shall be constructed or reconstructed or any grading, paving or repaving done to the same and no gutters or curbs shall be constructed or corrected until the owner or owners of the ground, or the person having charge of the work, shall first have obtained a permit for the same from the Secretary of the Borough Council. The permit shall have written or printed thereon, or attached thereto, a copy of this article, and shall be placed, by the party applying for the same, in the hands of the Borough Engineer, who shall furnish said person with the established lines and grades for which services he shall receive his proper charge from the party applying for the same. The services of the Borough Engineer will not be required where the grade has been definitely established by the existing curb. When the work set forth in said permit has been fully completed, a certificate that the work has been properly done, and the plans, regulations, requirements and ordinances of said Borough complied with, shall be procured from the Borough Engineer by the party applying for the above-mentioned permit, and indorsed on the permit, and returned to said Secretary of the Borough Council; provided, that if, in the judgment of the Borough Engineer, such construction or reconstruction, grading, paving, repairing or repaving of any sidewalk shall be inexpedient, or dangerous because of the existing grade of the street or the contiguous sidewalk, such permit shall not issue, or if issued, shall be canceled by the Borough Engineer, and the cost thereof returned to the applicant. The cost of each permit shall be as established by resolution of Borough Council, which fee shall be paid into the Borough treasury for the use of said Borough. No permit shall be valid after 60 days from date of issue.
If any person shall neglect or refuse to grade, pave, repave or repair any sidewalk or to construct, correct or repair any curb or to keep the same in repair pursuant to notice given as above mentioned, for the space of 30 days after the receipt of a notice as required by this article, or service of the same as hereinbefore provided, said Borough Council shall forthwith cause such grading, paving, repaving and repairing of sidewalks and such constructing, correcting and repairing of curbs and gutters to be done by contract, and the proper Borough authorities shall collect the cost of the same, together with a penalty of 10% of such cost, from the owner or owners of such ground, as such claims are by law recoverable.
Whenever any sidewalk, curb or gutters shall be out of repair, like proceedings shall be in all respects, and like recovery of the cost of such repairs shall be had from the owner or owners of such ground abutting thereon, as in hereinbefore provided for, in the case of grading, paving, repaving, repairing, curbing and guttering.
It shall not be lawful for the owner or owners of any property to place, allow or maintain any encroachment upon the sidewalk fronting or abutting on such property, such as a porch, extension, steps, railings, fences, hedges or excavations for a basement, cellar windows or cellar doors, unless provided with protective grating; or to place or allow any awning, sign or branches or trees at less than a clear height of nine feet above any sidewalk. Provided, that in the case of young trees, the branches thereof shall be permitted to extend over the sidewalk a distance of not more than three feet from either the building line or the curbline.
[Amended 12-10-1990 by Ord. No. 835; 11-21-2006 by Ord. No. 990]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this article, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues shall constitute a separate offense.