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Sec. 70-1. - Repair of sidewalks—Generally.#
Any sidewalk or sidewalk area or any part thereof adjoining any building or lot of land on any street, highway, square or public place, whether such sidewalk or sidewalk area, or any part thereof, is supported by curbing or not, shall be repaired by the department of public works at the expense of the abutting owner of such building or lot in the manner provided in this chapter.
(Code 1971, § 19-1)
Sec. 70-2. - Same—Order to repair.#
Whenever any hole, depression or obstruction exists in any sidewalk or sidewalk area, the department of public works may order the owner of land abutting on such sidewalk or sidewalk area, at such owner's expense, to fill or cause to be filled or repaired any such hole or depression or to remove any such obstruction thereon within such time as the department of public works shall direct. Such order shall be in writing and shall be personally given to the owner of the abutting land, if residing in the city, particularly describing the materials, widths, height and manner to which the sidewalk or sidewalk area shall be built or the alteration or repairs made, but if the owner does not reside in the city then the notice shall be given to the tenant in possession. If no tenant is in possession of such property, then the same shall be advertised in some newspaper generally circulated in the county at least once and a copy of such notice shall also be sent by mail to the owner's place of residence, if known.
(Code 1971, § 19-2)
Sec. 70-3. - Same—Repair by city on failure to comply with order.#
If any owner of abutting land or lands shall refuse or neglect to obey any order to repair any sidewalk or sidewalk area or remove obstructions therefrom within 24 hours after such order has been served upon him/her in writing or within such other time as the department of public works shall deem to be reasonable, the department of public works shall proceed at the expense of the city to repair such sidewalk or sidewalk area with materials suitable and satisfactory to the department. The department of public works shall keep an exact account of the cost of labor, material and supervision of the work done hereunder in making such repairs for each owner and shall report to the city council immediately upon the completion of the work.
(Code 1971, § 19-3)
Sec. 70-4. - Same—Assessment of costs of work done by city.#
It shall be the duty of the council, upon receipt of the report of the highway engineer provided for in the preceding section, to certify the expenses thereof to the assessor of taxes for the city, together with ten percent in addition thereto to cover the interest cost of assessing and collection, and the sum so certified shall be added by the assessors to the tax of the owner of such abutting land. Such proceedings shall be conclusive. Such owner, with his/her estate, shall be responsible therefor in the same manner and to the same extent as for other taxes. All societies, organizations and corporations owning real estate in the city, with the estates owned by them, shall be subject to the same regulations and liable for the same charges, costs, expenses and assessments in the same manner and to the same extent as are private individuals, notwithstanding that they may be exempt from taxation in other respects, notice being given to the treasurer or the person performing the duties of treasurer of any such society, organization or corporation.
(Code 1971, § 19-4)
Sec. 70-5. - Assignment of building numbers; numbers to be affixed to structure.#
The department of public works of the city shall assign the official number for buildings along the streets of the city and shall require the number designated for each building to be affixed thereto or inscribed thereon.
(Code 1971, § 19-5)
Sec. 70-6. - Penalty for failure to affix building number.#
Any owner or occupant of a building who for more than six months after written notice from the department of public works, fire department or police department neglects or refuses to affix to or inscribe on such building the street number lawfully designated therefor, or affixes or causes to be affixed to such building or inscribes or causes to be inscribed thereon or retains thereon for more than six months after notice from the department of public works, fire department or police department a street number other than the one so designated, shall, upon conviction, be punished as provided in section 1-4.
(Code 1971, § 19-6)
Sec. 70-7. - Placement of building numbers; color, size and visibility of numbers.#
All numbers affixed to or inscribed on buildings shall be prominently placed. Numbers shall be not less than three inches in height and in a contrasting color to the building. Numbers shall be affixed not less than five feet above grade level and not more than ten feet above grade level. Numbers shall be affixed or inscribed so that they are visible from the street or road and not obstructed by storm doors, shrubs, awnings, overhangs, columns, decorations, etc. Where buildings are set back from the street so that the number affixed or inscribed thereon cannot be seen from the street due to the distance involved, the number shall be prominently displayed at the head of the access to the building.
(Code 1971, § 19-7)
Sec. 70-8. - Placing merchandise on street or sidewalk.#
No person shall deposit, place, or put or suffer any person or persons in his/her employ to deposit, place, or put any goods, wares, or merchandise or any chattel on any street or highway or sidewalk in the city except when loading or shipping the same or actually removing the same into or out of some building or enclosure or loading the same into or unloading the same out of some vehicle.
Violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of $50.00 for the first and second offense by a person. The fine may be paid by mail or in person at the city municipal court. Upon the third and each subsequent violation of this section, a person shall be subject to the penalties set forth in section 1-4 of the Code.
(Code 1971, § 19-9; Ord. No. O-00-16, § I, 5-11-00)
Cross reference— Businesses, ch. 10.
Sec. 70-9. - Placing injurious material on street.#
No person shall put, place or cause to be put or placed in or upon any street, lane, alley or other public travelled place in this city any glass, crockery, scrap iron, nails, or tacks or any other article liable to injure persons or animals or damage vehicles travelling thereon.
Violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of $50.00 for the first and second offense by a person. The fine may be paid by mail or in person at the city municipal court. Upon the third and each subsequent violation of this section, a person shall be subject to the penalties set forth in section 1-4 of the Code.
(Code 1971, § 19-10; Ord. No. O-00-16, § I, 5-11-00)
Sec. 70-10. - Securing of wastepaper transported on streets; scattering wastepaper while loading or unloading vehicle.#
No person shall carry or convey through or in any street wastepaper not so covered or protected so as to prevent the escape of such paper into any street, and no person while loading or unloading a vehicle shall scatter or permit any wastepaper to be scattered in any street or highway or where such wastepaper shall be blown into any street or highway.
(Code 1971, § 19-12)
Sec. 70-11. - Securing of dirt, coal or similar materials transported on streets.#
No person shall carry or convey or cause to be carried or conveyed in any street, highway, square or park any ashes, dirt, loam, gravel, stones, bituminous coal, sand, rubbish, fertilizer, cement, lime or dry chemicals, unless the receptacle or vehicle containing such materials shall be closely covered or unless such materials are packaged or enclosed in a suitable or customary container.
(Code 1971, § 19-13)
Cross reference— Traffic, ch. 76.
Sec. 70-12. - Deposit of dirt or ashes on streets.#
No person shall place or deposit on any of the public highways or streets of the city any ashes or dirt, except for the director of public works or work done under his/her direction; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent anyone from placing ashes or dirt on the sidewalk of such street or highway for the better protection and comfort of the citizens of the city.
(Code 1971, § 19-14)
Sec. 70-13. - Congregating in streets.#
All persons who shall obstruct any street, bridge, lane, sidewalk, passageway or crosswalk in the villages of this city or any part thereof by congregating or standing thereon, crowding or otherwise obstructing the same to the annoyance or disturbance of the peaceful inhabitants thereof or passengers in or through such street, bridge, lane, passageway, crosswalk or sidewalk, shall be punishable as provided in section 1-4.
(Code 1971, § 19-16)
State Law reference— Disorderly conduct, G.L. 1956, § 11-45-1.
Sec. 70-14. - Playing ball in streets; throwing stones or other missiles in streets.#
The playing of baseball, practicing with a baseball and throwing of balls, stones or other missiles in the public streets and highways of the city is hereby prohibited; provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to dead-end streets, courts, circles and culs-de-sac.
Violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of $50.00 for the first and second offense by a person. The fine may be paid by mail or in person at the city municipal court. Upon the third and each subsequent violation of this section, a person shall be subject to the penalties set forth in section 1-4 of the Code.
(Code 1971, § 19-17; Ord. No. O-00-16, § I, 5-11-00)
Sec. 70-15. - Molesting boundary markers.#
No person shall wantonly break down, injure, remove, mar or destroy any monument or other memorial erected for the purpose of designating the boundaries of any street, highway or turnpike or any platted street, highway or turnpike in the city or any tree, stake or other thing marked for that purpose, or break down, injure, remove, mar or destroy any milestone or mileboard erected upon a highway or turnpike or wantonly deface or alter the inscription on any such stone, board or tree.
(Code 1971, § 19-18)
Sec. 70-16. - Moving of buildings—Application for permission.#
Whenever any person desires to remove any building along, across or through any of the streets, public highways or bridges within the city, he/she shall present an application to the department of building inspection, which application shall describe the building, its dimensions, location, the place to which it is to be removed and the streets along, through or across which the same is to be removed.
(Code 1971, § 19-19)
Cross reference— Buildings and building regulations, ch. 8.
Sec. 70-17. - Same—Notice to police, fire and highway departments; prescription of route.#
No building shall be removed along, through or across any of the public streets or highways within the city without permission of the building inspector, upon application as provided in the preceding section, and such permission shall not be granted without first giving notice of such petition to the police, fire and highway departments. The building inspector shall prescribe the streets or highways along or across which and the time within which such building shall be removed.
(Code 1971, § 19-20)
Sec. 70-18. - Same—Bond; payment of damages.#
The owner of every building removed in the city shall pay to the city all damages, costs and expenses occasioned to the city by such removal. Before removing such building, the owner shall give bond to the building inspector in such sum as the building inspector shall prescribe for the payment of such costs, expenses and damages.
(Code 1971, § 19-21)
Sec. 70-19. - Same—Violations; penalty.#
Every owner removing any building along or across any of the streets or highways of the city without the permission of the building inspector or in a manner not in compliance with the terms and conditions of such permission shall be guilty of an offense and shall be punishable as provided in section 1-4.
(Code 1971, § 19-22)
Sec. 70-20. - Authority of council regarding the addition, removal or significant alteration of street lights#
By resolution, the city council shall determine the addition, removal or significant alteration of street lights, as well as the respective locations of said street lights. Prior to the determination, the city council shall seek and take into consideration, any report or recommendation submitted by the chief of police, the board of public safety, and the director of public works.
(Ord. No. O-21-7, § I, 6-9-21)