NORWICH – The City of Norwich Common Council has been discussing options for a sidewalk replacement program since mid-August. After nearly nine months, a list of properties in need of sidewalk replacement has been completed, and the program is finally nearing the construction phase.
In October, the sidewalk replacement program received an extra push, when Senator Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton) agreed to provide the city with $50,000 to help shoulder the cost of sidewalk replacement. The first phase of the sidewalk replacement will offer selected homeowners the chance to have their sidewalks replaced, with half of the cost covered by the city.
Over the last few months, the members of the common council have been examining their wards and contacting community members whose sidewalks were in need of repair. A list of interested individuals emerged, and city officials have chosen the properties that will be selected for the program. In order to maximize the number of sidewalks that can be replaced, the city said they were looking for groups of houses in a row or entire streets to replace, instead of doing random houses.
At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Common Council, Department of Public Works Superintendent Carl Ivarson said letters would be going out to the selected individuals asking for a response by May 29.
“If these people don’t follow through, can others potentially be put on the list?” asked Sixth Ward Alderman Robert Jeffrey.
Ivarson explained that a back-up list had already been formed. The money from Libous came under the condition that the city use at least $50,000 on sidewalk replacement. “Hopefully we have enough people sending back checks,” said Ivarson.
The city hopes to continue the sidewalk replacement plan in the years to come. Although they may not be able to offer the same 50 percent match in the following years, they plan to offer residents the option to pay over a period of three or five years.