Milton committee reignites sidewalks debate

If there's one thing most people in Milton can agree on, it's that sidewalks need repair. How to get them fixed, though, remains a topic of conversation for the town's streets and sidewalks committee.

“We've come to one conclusion – we have issues,” said committee chair John Collier after a lengthy conversation about the issue June 20.

As it stands, property owners are responsible for repair and maintenance of the sidewalks along their properties. However, there is no penalty in place for neglecting to maintain or fix sidewalks.

Many ideas have been thrown into the discussion, including a change to the ordinance to have the town take over responsibility of the sidewalks. Chestnut Street resident Jeff Seemans said he would be in favor of that measure.

“I would like this to be well thought out and other options explored before homeowners [are forced to pay],” he said. “After one of the worst recessions we've experienced in 50 years, we're now about to spend $6,000 to $10,000 out of our own pocket for this?”

Resident Lorraine Wasserman had an opposing opinion. She said she doesn't want to pay for someone else's sidewalks.

“I know very well if I have a crack in my sidewalk and somebody falls and breaks their ankle, I'm responsible for that sidewalk,” she said. “Half of the people don't have sidewalks, and I'll be damned if I'm going to pay for everybody's. [The ordinance] is on the book for a reason, so let's enforce it.”

At its July 10 meeting, Collier said it would be difficult for the town to shoulder the burden of paying for sidewalk repairs. The consensus opinion of the committee was town council should consider adding teeth to the town's ordinance because, for the most part, residents ignore the current law.

In an attempt to urge residents to repair walkways in 2007, a letter was sent to all residents whose sidewalks were not maintained. Committee member P.D. Camenisch said the letter did inspire some residents to take action, but only a very few. Other residents had their sidewalks repaired at no cost as a result of federal grants, but that left the town with areas of inconsistent paths.

Mayor Marion Jones said committee should focus on making the ordinance enforceable.

“There is no sense in sending out an engineer or this group to identify sidewalks [in poor condition] or send out letters when you have no consequences for inaction,” she said. “You must first put that in place in order to enforce it.”

Collier suggested the town take a different approach when informing residents of deteriorating sidewalks. Instead of sending a letter, he said, the town's public works department could identify sections of a resident's sidewalk that needs attention. By replacing or repairing a small section rather than the entire walkway, he said, the cost to residents could be greatly reduced.

“Now that won't be new and pretty all the way across the front of the house, but I think what we're looking for at this point is something that is walkable,” he said. “If somebody wants to go beyond that, that's fine.”

Collier plans to bring the committee's recommendations before town council at its next meeting scheduled for Monday, Aug. 5, at the Milton Public Library.