Dear Eleanore Turkington:
I have a real gripe! The sidewalk between 108 and 112 Lakeview Ave. is a tripping hazard. It is unsafe for pedestrians, children on bikes and scooters and mothers walking their babies in strollers, etc. Please let me know how I can get this fixed without going through a lot of red tape! Thank you for all you do for the citizens of West Haven.
A Caring Resident
Dear Caring:
I have placed your request in the hands of Lewis Esposito, the Mayoral Assistant to Mayor Nancy Rossi. According to Esposito, sidewalk repair is the property owner’s responsibility. In order to clarify Esposito’s response, I performed some research on his statement.
According to the city’s ordinance 206-1 Responsibility of owners of fronting land:
- The City Council of the City of West Haven, may order the owner or owners of any land fronting on any street or highway within said city to construct and repair all sidewalks or curbs adjacent to such land in the manner and within the time specified in such order and at such grade as said city may have established in such street or highway, the expense of establishing such grade or curb line, exclusive of damages, shall be paid by said city.
- If such owner or owners shall neglect or refuse to comply with such order, it shall be the duty of the city to perform the work required by said order, and the expense so incurred shall, from the time when said council begins to act and incur expense in the premises, be and continue a lien in favor of said city upon such land until paid, and the amount of such expense may be recovered in an action in the name of the city.
Following the above action, a public hearing would be held, fundings, appeals and modifications by the court will be made.
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
The sidewalk on this side of Elm Street, 326-334, has been bad for some time. I am not sure why the City of West Haven has yet to fix it when it is not even that far from the town’s City Hall. I recently walked by it and had to help a young lady with her child’s stroller because the alignment was damaged due to the uneven concrete.Can we get it fixed?
A Helpful Resident
Dear Helpful Resident:
Gripe Vine has sent a list of various complaints to Mayor Nancy Rossi’s Executive Assistant, Lewis Esposito, many of which I am awaiting responses.
After reading the city’s stand on sidewalk repairs printed in my column today, my readers will understand what procedures have to be followed. I would suggest, after viewing the city’s stand on sidewalk repairs, that readers contact the mayor’s office for her input on this ordinance. Meanwhile, I’ll keep in touch with Esposito on other complaints from my readers.
Readers, if you have occasion to visit the Motor Vehicle Office at City Hall, drop me a line and let me know of your experiences.
You may send your gripes, comments and suggestions to [email protected] or mail them to Gripe Vine c/o West Haven Voice, 666 Savin Ave. You can also submit through our online form by clicking here. Please include your name, address and phone number, which will be kept in strict confidentiality with me.