The sidewalks in the streets of the City shall be kept in repair by the owner or owners of the abutting property at the cost and expense of the owner or owners of the lands in front of which any such sidewalk is constructed. Such owner or owners are hereafter in this article referred to as "the owner or owners of the land."
If the owner or owners of the land affected thereby, after notice as provided in § 735-7, shall refuse or neglect to make any repairs or improvements directed or required by said notice, the City Council may cause such improvements to be made under the direction and supervision of the City Engineer or award one or more contracts for the making of such improvement as provided in § 735-8.
A.
Before proceeding to make any such improvement or award any contracts for the making thereof, the City Council shall cause notice of such contemplated improvement to be given to the owner or owners of lands affected thereby.
B.
Such notice shall contain a description of the property affected, sufficiently definite in terms to identify the same, as well as a description of the improvement and a notice that, unless certain improvements shall be completed within 30 days after the service thereof, it is the intention of the City to make such improvements or cause the same to be done pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:65-1 et seq. and the amendments thereof and supplements thereto.
C.
Service of the notice shall be made in accordance with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40:65-3, and, if service cannot be made as therein directed, then by publication of the notice in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:65-4.
If any owners or persons shall fail to construct or repair such sidewalks, pavements or curbing for a period of 30 days after service of the notice requiring such work to be done, then the cost thereof, with interest, shall be charged upon the lot or lots of land in front of which such sidewalks or curbing shall have been so constructed or repaired. Such charges shall become and remain a lien on said lot or lots.
When any sidewalk improvement shall be made by the City Engineer under the direction and supervision of the Director Planning and Development, said Director shall keep a true and accurate account of the costs and expenses thereof and shall apportion the same among the several properties improved in proportion to the frontage of their respective land. The Director of Planning and Development shall forthwith file a report thereof, under oath or affirmation, with the City Clerk, who shall bring said report to the attention of the City Council. The Council shall examine the same and, if the same is properly made, shall confirm the same and file such report with the Director of Finance. The Director of Finance shall record said sidewalk assessment in the same book in which other assessments of the municipality are recorded. Before confirming said report, the City Council shall cause notice to be given to the owner or owners named therein of the time and place of the meeting at which the Council will examine the statement for the purpose of confirmation. Such notice shall be given within the time and in the same manner as is required to be done for the consideration by the Council of reports of assessments for benefits for local improvements (see N.J.S.A. 40:56-30), but failure to give any such notice shall not invalidate the proceedings.
Every such sidewalk assessment shall bear interest and penalties from the same time and at the same rate as assessments for local improvements in the City and, from the date of confirmation, shall be a first and paramount lien on said lands assessed to the same extent as assessments for local improvement. No such assessment shall be invalidated by reason of any error or omission in stating the name of the owner or owners of any such lot of land or real estate assessed or for any other informality where such lot of land or real estate has actually been improved.