Description
Driving down Jewett Street each morning and making my way to Main Street via Columbia I have been struck by the HORRID condition of many of the sidewalks in the area. Is sidewalk repair and maintenance the responsibility of the homeowner or city? If you look at the condition of many of these homes it's pretty clear the homeowners are NEVER going to paint their houses, forget pay for new sidewalks in front of them. What happens when someone trips and falls? Do they sue the city because the sidewalk was in disrepair? In any event, Ansonia needs a few miles of new sidewalks installed in this area and it appears someone needs to make the first move before an injury occurs.
24 Comments
PRIORITY-ONE (Guest)
Is sidewalk repair and maintenance the responsibility of the homeowner or city?
Answer:
It is dependent on who you may know.
Unfortunately wrenching ones ankle due to these conditions has not been priority throughout the city even in light of the immediate egress activity by the growing population of temporary renters throughout the town. Many have witnessed the sidewalks stressing by the rental community parking or driving over them with car suspensions low enough to investigate the underside of a man hole cover. Sidewalks have been the go to spot for car performance and repairs. Off topic the huge temporary rental society stresses the education system our valid tax payers support knowing affordable housing is available in the city contributed simply by many forms blight throughout keeping it affordable.
PRIORITY ONE is to get the nearly half-a-million dollar West Main Street parking facet repaired (with sidewalks) in an area so hidden to the public by a floodwall with the hope that grant money will complement the unsightly appearance of the adjacent Farrell complex. Many already have known for decades Ansonia’s economic decline pinnacles in this crumbling sector until a Brownfield commitment becomes priority one prior to decorative lamp posts currently overshadowed.
Hello Ms. (Environmental Committee) Gentile ….are you reading this?
Help, Ansonia is drowning in disorganization.
Closed Planner (Registered User)
Check your local ordinances for further guidance.
Reopened ChargerOne (Guest)
James Monrroe (Guest)
Lynda Syney (Guest)
Angelo Smarth (Guest)
Planner (Registered User)
If this is a specific problem that the responsible homeowner is not attending to I suggest you contact your alderman.
Why do you assume that if you post a complaint on a commercial website that the city would know about it? Call your Alderman and I am sure they will look into it and take action if it is within the City's power.
Bob Guy (Registered User)
Closed Planner (Registered User)
1) Liability is with the property owner however the plaintiff can sue anyone. The court will then sort it out.
2) When it is unclear who in the city has responsibility and it's not a 911 emergency (call the PD), I always advise that they call the Alderman for their ward.
These elected officials are there to resolve problems on behalf of their constituents and get the correct answer and action. Although our taxes pay for operations, Department heads (like Public Works) answer to the Mayor and Aldermen and may not necessarily have authorization to act as quickly as we would like based on a resident phone call. In these cases Chain of Command is actually quicker.
Reopened James J. McMoran (Guest)
Planner,
I have never seen a response to dated and out of touch before.
YES, unless the City of Ansonia has plans to launch on online system for residents to report problems in the city and expect response, THIS will serve as such a forum and if you work for the city (Mayor, Alderman, you name it) it is part of your responsibility to check THIS site to see what issues are being posted so you can discuss and take action.
While I don't spot reference to them on the Connecticut Post's web site (you can locate them with a search) both the New Haven Register and online Valley Independent Sentinel (two of the leading local new sources) DIRECT READERS to See, Click, Fix to report problems in their towns and cities. I didn't check the local TV station web sites, yet.
So let me help you here. YES, the news sources Ansonia residents turn to ARE telling them to "post a complaint on a commercial website" to report things like this thread. Are you happy about that? NO. Is that what is happening? YES. Are people going to "call their Alderman" (very 1985) to report a problem when most don't know who they are? NO. Are they going to report things her in public when they can be seen and expect action, yes.
If Ansonia (or some other town or city) has a problem with people using this forum to report community problem then you best tell the media to not send people here to do that. Until then, keep reading, take notes and TAKE ACTION on what is reported here. It's 2013.
Bob Guy (Registered User)
James J. McMoran (Guest)
Bob, the fact remains that most people have no idea who their alderman is AND problems remain "hush hush" when ONE person makes a call to ONE alderman. Here, everyone who visits the site is aware of problems within the city and those who can take action can respond about what is being done or can't be done. It's like a town hall meeting.
All that said, the fact remains (in this instance, not that other cities don't feel the same way) that Ansonia is saying "No, don't use this commercial web site, call your alderman" and the media is saying "No, use this web site to quickly report problems in your area!". We hare TWO voices saying different things and the one the public hears loudest (newspapers and TV directing them here) is the one they will listen to.
I realize See, Click, Fix may charge towns a fee. I realize they may not want to partake for good reason. However, the site is here and residents are being told to USE IT to report problems. Either the city does something to counter that message or everyone who works for Ansonia best keep checking this site and be ready to take action and respond, alderman with telephones standing by for calls or not.
No need to argue, that's the fact. See, Click, Fix IS replacing "call your Alderman" because new sources are making it so. How a city who doesn't care for that responds, I can't say.
Bob Guy (Registered User)
AnsoniaCT (Registered User)
Bob Guy (Registered User)
James J. McMoran (Guest)
AnsoniaCT,
THANK YOU so much for confirming the City of Ansonia does indeed monitor this site and consider it the great resource it is. I'm sure there are many issues for the new administration, but the condition of sidewalks in many older residential areas where homeowners have done nothing but let them crumbled away is certainly a safety concern. The City will certainly end up a party to any injury lawsuit caused by this issue. Even if technically not liable, it will still costs dollars we don't have to waste to build a defense.
Planner (Registered User)
That said, while it may be "very 1985", the most effective way to get a response from your city is to contact your elected officials directly and to ALWAYS report emergencies by calling 911.
Planner (Registered User)
Bob Guy (Registered User)
Planner (Registered User)
Federal aid for roads or sidewalks is only available for federally eligible roads. I have attached a copy of the Ansonia map identifying these roads for your reference. The link to all town functional classification maps is available on the CT DOT website here: http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/dpolicy/policymaps/fcl/pdf/fclpdf.pdf
As for the city providing contractors for specific work, this can be complicated and open the municipality to liability since they do not own the sidewalk, the property owner does. Derby has a program that reimburses property owners for "sidewalk in place" at a rate pegged to the annual bids received by the city for sidewalk installation. The property owner must secure their own contractor (the city's contractor list is available for selection) and build the sidewalk to the city's specifications to qualify, pay the contractor and then seek reimbursement from the city.
Bob Guy (Registered User)
Planner (Guest)
The comparative cost of sidewalks and the fact that they are not publicly- owned.
Barbara Sinclair (Guest)
Well, Ansonia needs a plan. Drive down Hodge, Vine, Columbia, Platt, etc, etc. and you'll find sidewalks that are almost non-existent they have crumbled so badly. These homeowners clearly can't afford to repair them or are not aware they are responsible.
All that said, what PLAN does Ansonia have to address this? I named just one area a city official can drive down today and pretty much leave letters on 75% of the homes telling homeowners they need to replace/repair their sidewalks.
Closed special treatment (Registered User)