Steve Thurston (2021)
Some property owners along the east side of Broad Street in Schuylerville took advantage of the village's law that subsidizes sidewalk replacement. The subsidy only covers the concrete sections, not the specialized, inlaid block.
New sidewalks are coming to Schuylerville, along with proposed amendments to the sidewalk laws in the city code.
The village has won approval for a $125,000 State and Municipality Facilities grant to replace broken sidewalks along the west side of Broad Street north of Burgoyne Street, an email from the village says. Work will begin this year.
“Certain sections of the sidewalks, you’ll break your ankle on,” Mayor Dan Carpenter said during an interview Thursday.
The proposed language in the revised law makes it more clear that the property owner is responsible for harm if someone actually breaks an ankle, or is otherwise injured, and would give owners 90 days (outside of the coldest winter months) to repair sidewalks, or the village will do the work, and the owner will pay the cost. As well, a $50 per day fine may be levied against the owner after the 90 days are up. Current law says that the owner is responsible, but very little addresses how the government holds that person or organization responsible.
The revised law also expands the first section by a few sentences, clarifying the materials and look of new sidewalks. Among the guidance, sidewalks will be: 5 feet wide, made of Portland concrete that can handle 3,000 pounds of pressure per square inch and sloped toward the street.
The new sidewalks as they come in will make Schuylerville even more walkable, Carpenter said.
Trustee Dan Baker told the board at last week’s meeting: "I'd like to get this done as quickly as possible.”
The proposed law will continue the subsidy in which the village covers half the cost of building new sidewalks, up to $1,500. The village’s Department of Public Works will continue to break down and haul away the old sidewalk at village expense, Carpenter said. Property owners must submit plans along with contractor bids in order to take advantage of this program.
The village recently used a state grant to install new sidewalks on streets near the Schuylerville Hose Company (the fire department) to help protect students who walk to the nearby school.
The village board plans to hold a public hearing and a vote on the amended law next month.