[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of West
Haven 11-12-1985 by Ord. No. 235. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The short title of this chapter shall be the "Sidewalk Snow
and Ice Removal Ordinance."
This chapter is intended to ensure that safe and convenient
walking conditions are restored in West Haven as rapidly as possible
following winter storms.
A.
CHIEF OF POLICE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
PERSON RESPONSIBLE
PREMISES
PUBLIC FACILITY
SIDEWALK
STREET
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation of this
chapter:
The West Haven Chief of Police or any person authorized to
act as a representative of the Chief of Police.
The West Haven Director of Public Works or any person authorized
to act as a representative of the Director of Public Works.
The owner, tenant, occupant or other entity, either corporate
or personal, who is responsible under the law for maintenance of the
premises.
Any lot or part thereof or parcel of land or plot of land,
either occupied or unoccupied, by any dwelling or nondwelling structure.
Any property maintained by the city for public access and
use for any purpose, including but not limited to recreation, education
or municipal service.
Any walk or path along the side of a street or public facility
which is reserved by custom for the use of pedestrians.
Any way or thoroughfare generally accessible to the public
and maintained, either by the city or privately, for vehicular traffic.
B.
All other terms used in this chapter shall be interpreted by their
definitions as given in the most recently published edition of Webster's
New Dictionary of the English Language.
The person responsible for the care of any premises fronting
on any street or public facility in the City of West Haven shall,
within 24 hours after the cessation of any snow, ice or sleet storm,
cause any accumulation of snow, ice or sleet to be removed from any
sidewalks included on or adjacent to said premises. In the event that
said snow, ice or sleet cannot be removed after reasonable effort,
the person responsible shall cause an abrasive substance, such as
sand, to be spread on such sidewalk at intervals of time frequent
enough and in quantities sufficient to ensure that such sidewalk is
safe for pedestrian travel.
It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to enforce the provisions of this chapter. Any police officer may personally serve notice of violation on the person responsible for any sidewalk found in violation of the provisions of § 195-4 of this chapter or attach such notice in a conspicuous place on any such premises where the sidewalk or adjacent sidewalk has been found to be in violation.
A.
If the person responsible for a premises containing or adjacent to a sidewalk which is in violation of § 195-4 of this chapter shall neglect to either remove said accumulation or otherwise restore said sidewalk to a safe condition within eight hours of the service or posting of a notice of violation according to § 195-5 of this chapter and if the Chief of Police determines that a hazardous condition exists because the person responsible has not complied with § 195-4 of this chapter, the Chief of Police may order the Director of Public Works to cause the accumulation to be removed or abrasive material to be spread in order to return said sidewalk to a safe condition, at the expense of the person responsible for said premises.
B.
Notice of this action and a bill for the expense of materials and
services rendered shall be delivered to the person responsible within
10 business days of the action.
C.
If such expense remains unpaid, the same shall be a lien upon the
premises adjoining or containing said sidewalk, provided that the
Director of Public Works causes a certificate of lien to be recorded
in the office of the City Clerk within 60 days from the date at which
said bill of expense was presented.
Any person responsible for a premises containing or adjacent to any sidewalk which is in violation of § 195-4 of this chapter is liable for a fine of $25 for each day that the violation persists.
[Added 11-25-1996 by Ord. No. 364; amended 3-24-2003]
A.
No person removing snow from any property shall place or deposit
onto any street, sidewalk or other public way of the City snow in
such a manner or to such an extent as to unreasonably impede or cause
inconvenience to the traveling public.
B.
Any person violating this section shall be liable for a fine of $60
for each day the violation persists.
