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Footnotes:
--- (3) --- State Law reference— Sidewalks generally, G.L. 1956, §§ 24-7-1—24-7-10; power of council to establish and regulate sidewalks, G.L. 1956, § 24-7-1.
Sec. 14-36. - Inspector.#
The director of public works or his designee shall be the sidewalk inspector for the city.
(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 14-36)
Sec. 14-37. - Power and authority of inspector.#
The sidewalk inspector shall have the power and authority to enforce the provisions of section 14-44.
(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 14-37)
Sec. 14-38. - Animals and vehicles.#
No person shall ride, drive, lead any animal, move or trundle any vehicle upon any sidewalk in the city, except light carriages for the conveyance of children, unless for the purpose of necessarily crossing the sidewalk, nor shall any person allow any animal belonging to him or under his care to stand on any sidewalk in the city.
(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 14-38)
Cross reference— Animals, ch. 3; vehicles and traffic, ch. 18.
Sec. 14-39. - Awnings.#
No awning shall be placed or continued over any sidewalk, unless the awning shall be constructed of cloth or canvas and supported by iron rods, and every part of such awning and of the supports thereof shall be at least eight feet above the sidewalk.
(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 14-39)
Sec. 14-40. - Removal of snow and ice.#
(a)
Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)
Sidewalk means any portion of the sidewalk area which has been made smooth or improved by the application of cement, concrete, asphalt, brick, or other substance or compacted and made smooth.
(2)
Sidewalk area means that portion of the street between the property line and the curbline of the street which is set aside, laid out, or used for pedestrian traffic.
(b)
Removal of snow and ice required. The owner, occupant or any person having the care of any building or lot of land bordering on any street, highway, square or public place within the city where there is a sidewalk shall, within the first 24 hours after any snow has ceased to fall, remove the snow and ice from said sidewalk.
(c)
Depositing snow. Snow and ice removed from a sidewalk, private yard or private driveway shall not be thrown or deposited on any street, sidewalk or any real property of another property owner.
(d)
Penalties. All violations of this section shall be subject to a written warning for a first offense, a fine of $25.00 for a second offense, and a fine of $75.00 for a third and subsequent offenses.
(e)
[City discretion.] The city may at its discretion remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk if the owner, occupant or person refuses to comply with subsection (b). If the city and/or its agents remove the snow and ice, the city may recover the actual costs of such removal.
(Rev. Ords. 1987, §14-40; Ch. 526, § I, 3-1-11; Ch. 542, § I, II, 1-3-12; Ch. 583, § I, 8-20-13)
Sec. 14-41. - Power and authority of inspector and police department.#
The sidewalk inspector and police department shall have the power and authority to enforce the provisions of section 14-40.
(Rev. Ords. 1987, §14-41; Ch. 526, § II, 3-1-11)
Sec. 14-42. - Remaining upon doorstep to annoyance of others.#
No person shall be or remain upon any doorstep of or other projection from any building so as to annoy or disturb any person or to obstruct any passage to the doorstep or the appurtenances thereof. Every person so being or remaining, when ordered by any police officer or the owner or occupant of the building to remove, shall immediately peaceably depart and stay away therefrom.
(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 14-43)
Sec. 14-43. - Duty of owner or occupant to cut grass.#
Whenever a paved or improved sidewalk area, or an unpaved sidewalk or any unpaved part thereof adjoining any building or lot of the land on any street, highway, square, or public place shall be overgrown with grass, weeds, or underbrush, it shall be the duty of the owner, occupant, or any person having the care of such building or lot to cut such grass, weeds, or underbrush to a height not exceeding six inches in order that it may be made safe and convenient for the use of the public. The owner or any other person having the care of such building or lot shall cut such grass, weeds, or underbrush within five days after receiving notice that he is in violation of this section from the chief inspector. (a)
Penalties. Violations of this section shall be subject to a written warning for a first offense, a fine of $25.00 for a second offense, and a fine of $75.00 for a third and subsequent offenses.
(b)
Whenever the owner, occupant or any other person having the care of such building or lot fails to comply with the notice from the chief inspector within five days that he/she is in violation of this section and the chief inspector determines that such grass, weeds, or underbrush adversely effects the safety and convenience for use of the public, the inspector may order the removal of the grass, weeds or underbrush and assess the whole costs incurred for such removal by imposing a lien on the property as provided or authorized by law for the enforcement of common liens on property. Such lien will be recorded to ensure payment of such costs.
(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 14-44; Ch. 592, § I, 11-19-13)
Sec. 14-44. - Maintenance and repair.#
(a)
All owners or agents of owners with property abutting and fronting upon any plaza, street, or alley within the corporate limits of the city are required to keep the public sidewalks including the authorized installations thereon and therein and the curb, and the curb and gutter immediately abutting their property in good order and repair. Each such owner shall be liable to the city for all losses to the city or recoveries from the city for damages to person or property of others caused by his failure or that of his agents to repair and keep in good order and reasonably safe condition all such sidewalks abutting and fronting his property upon any plaza, street, or alley within the corporate limits of the city.
(b)
Upon failure of any owner to maintain the sidewalk, curb or gutter as provided for in subsection (a) of this section, the sidewalk inspector shall serve a notice upon such owner describing the property affected and the improvement for such repairs required and stating the intent of the city to cause such improvements or repairs to be made within 30 days after service of notice in the event that such owner shall fail to do so.
(c)
If, after service of any notice as provided for in subsection (b) of this section the owners of any land affected thereby shall neglect to make the improvements to be made, the sidewalk inspector shall notify the city council and after receiving its approval shall cause improvements to be made and shall report the expenses for those improvements to the council. The council shall thereupon by resolution assess the cost and expense thereof upon the owner or owners of all the property bounding or abutting thereon, and such assessment shall be collected in the same manner as other assessments with a penalty of ten percent and interest for failure to pay at the time fixed by the assessment resolution.
(d)
All contracts for repairs shall be secured and all bids concerning contracts for repairs shall be secured in compliance with the city ordinance.
(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 14-45)