[Amended 9-17-2019 by Ord. No. 2968-19]
Any person owning any land fronting upon any public street or
highway within the Township of Maplewood shall keep all sidewalks,
curbs, monolithic curbs, gutters, stone swales, and driveway aprons
fronting said land in good repair.
All new curbs within Township right-of-way constructed by the
abutting owner shall be constructed of Belgian block unless it is
determined by the Township Engineer that poured concrete is already
the predominant type within the vicinity.
[Amended 9-17-2019 by Ord. No. 2968-19]
In accordance with the notice procedures provided in this article,
any sidewalk, curb, gutter, stone swale and driveway apron on any
public street which is out of line or grade or broken or out of repair
or is otherwise in need of construction or repair shall be relaid
to line or grade or the broken portions thereof shall be repaired
or reconstructed by the owner or owners of the land or building in
front of which any such improvement, reconstruction or repair is to
be made.
[Amended 9-17-2019 by Ord. No. 2968-19]
Whenever the Township Engineer, Township Construction Official
or their designee determines that any sidewalk, curb, gutter, stone
swale or driveway apron is in disrepair, he shall cause notice thereof
duly signed by him to be served upon the responsible owner directing
him to do the work within 30 days after service of the notice. The
notice shall specify in sufficient detail the character of the improvement,
reconstruction or repair to be made, shall set forth a description
of the property affected sufficiently definite to identify the same
and shall otherwise comply with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40:65-1
et seq., etc., for such cases made and provided. The notice shall
give opportunity to such owner or owners to be heard and to offer
satisfactory reasons to the Township Engineer why the work should
not be done. Service of the notice and proof of service thereof shall
be made in accordance with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40:65-1 et
seq.
If, in the absence of any good and sufficient reason why the
work should not be done, the owner fails to make the improvement,
reconstruction or repair within 30 days after service of the notice,
then the Township Engineer, Township Construction Official or their
designees may have the work done at the cost and expense of the owner
or owners, and he shall keep an accurate account of the cost thereof.
The cost shall be assessed against the owner or owners of the land
or building in front of the improvement or repair, and a report shall
be filed with the Township Clerk. The Township Committee, after notice
to the owner or owners, shall confirm the report and file it with
the Tax Collector. The assessments shall bear interest from the time
of confirmation and shall be a lien on the real estate assessed and
shall be collected in the same manner as taxes and other legal assessments.