[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City
of Schenectady 2-9-1970 by Ord.
No. 15274.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also specifically
repealed provisions of Ch. 17, Art. I, of the former Revised Ordinances,
adopted 2-9-1970 by Ord. No. 15274.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to
all wires hereafter strung or suspended in, through or across any
and all public streets, avenues, public places and squares in the
City.
[Amended 6-2-1986 by L.L. No. 3-1986]
The City Engineer, under the direction of the
Mayor and City Council, shall have supervision of and charge over
all telegraph, telephone and electric lines. He shall forthwith report
to the Mayor any violation of this chapter.
No telegraph, telephone or electric line shall
be erected or maintained until the owner thereof shall file with the
Mayor a written agreement accepting and promising to abide by and
perform all the conditions and provisions of this chapter.
On streets where curbs are set, all posts shall
be erected in the sidewalk within and adjoining the curbs. The posts
shall be so erected as not to interfere with the gutters. No posts
shall be erected within five feet of any hydrant nor so as to interfere
with any water pipe, shade tree, driveway or intersection of streets.
All posts for telegraph, telephone and electric
lines shall be straight, properly trimmed and painted. They shall
not be less than 25 feet in height from the ground. They shall be
either of iron, cedar, pine, chestnut or other approved material;
and if of wood, not less than six inches in diameter at the smaller
end and 10 inches in diameter at the ground. Such posts shall be properly
set in the ground to a depth of at least five feet. Wherever any wire
shall hereafter cross any street or way, it shall be at a height of
not less than 25 feet above such street or way and, where practicable,
cross at right angles.
A.Â
All wires for the transmission of electricity for
lighting and power shall at all times be insulated so as to resist
abrasion and be impervious to water. When placed above the surface
of the ground, all wires, telegraph, electric lighting or others,
shall be suspended upon posts and so arranged as to prevent contact
with foreign wires.
B.Â
When any such wires shall be broken or its insulation
shall become imperfect, the electric current shall forthwith be discontinued
and the wire not used until properly repaired and insulated.
Wire for the transmission of electricity for
lighting and motor power shall be secured to insulating fastenings
of glass, hard rubber or other approved insulating material. All tie-wires
shall be insulated from conducting wires. All joints in wires shall
be securely made and, where possible, soldered and wrapped with proper
insulating material. Continuous wires without joints shall be used
as far as possible.
Wires for the transmission of electricity passing
through the exterior walls of buildings shall be firmly encased in
substantial tubes of nonconducting material not liable to absorb moisture
and so placed as to prevent water from entering the building along
the wire. Outgoing and returning wires for arc lights or incandescent
lights shall enter and leave buildings at points at least eight inches
from each other. In running along outside walls, cornices and the
like, all such wires shall be rigidly fastened by nonconducting fastenings
of glass and, where carried over or attached to buildings, must be
at least seven feet above the highest point of flat roofs and 1Â 1/2
feet above pitched roofs and placed so as to avoid ladders of the
Fire Department. They shall not be run over or attached to buildings
other than those desiring light and power.
A.Â
Wires for the transmission of electricity and also
telegraph and telephone wires passing through trees shall be firmly
encased in substantial tubes of nonconducting material not liable
to absorb moisture and so placed as to prevent any damage to such
trees, and it shall be unlawful in the construction of such wires
to so cut said trees or any part thereof so as to cause damage or
injury to such trees.
B.Â
Any person violating this section shall be punished
by a fine of $10 for each offense and stand committed until such fine
is paid, not exceeding 10 days, besides being liable in damages for
the injuries the owner may suffer.
In case of fire, the Chief of the Fire Department
or the assistant in command shall have full power and authority to
order and cause any electric wires to be cut or removed and electric
current discontinued until the fire is extinguished.
All dead wires, where crossing public streets
or ways, shall be removed.
[Amended 6-2-1986 by L.L. No. 3-1986]
The owner or owners, lessee or lessees of every
telegraph, telephone and all other poles, for whatever purpose used,
shall reserve and cause to be reserved a space 12 inches above telephone
lines and 48 inches below secondary lines, which space shall be used
by the City and its officers or employees for the purpose of stringing
police and fire alarm wires and all other systems requiring the stringing
of wires by the said authorities, and, wherever necessary, said owners
of said telegraph or telephone poles shall cause a guard wire to be
placed over City wires in such a manner as to thoroughly protect the
same from any foreign wire or wires dropping or coming in contact
with such City wires.
