Meeting held for those with the 33 worst sidewalks in town. Borough officials want walkways fixed
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
People have all kinds of things in common.
Take, for example, those from a group of 33 property owners who recently gathered at Borough Hall with Councilman Joseph Lawver, Councilwoman Eileen Heinzel and other officials.
The properties owned by those folks have been deemed the locations of the 33 worst sidewalks in Pennington. Borough officials want them to be fixed.
One reason for bringing the owners of the sidewalks together, and have them put their signatures on a sheet, was to give them the opportunity to work together. The idea is that they can get a better rate for sidewalk repairs by contracting for it with other property owners than if each one contracts for the work alone.
In another incentive, the borough recently passed a law waiving, for one year, construction permits for sidewalk repairs. Those repairs range from $450 to $100.
The session attended by the property owners was well-attended and “went pretty well,” Mr. Lawver said at Monday night’s council meeting.
He added that, if some of the sidewalks are still not repaired after the expiration of the one-year ordinance waiving the fees, the council should consider fining the property owners. If that doesn’t get the sidewalks fixed so that they are in compliance with safety laws, the borough could fix them and bill the property owner for the work. Liens could be placed against the properties whose owners did not pay such bills.
Concern over trees was a main topic at the meeting the property owners attended, Mr. Lawver said. Some of the problems with sidewalks stem from the proximity of very large trees whose roots tilt blocks of pavement.
Mr. Lawver is chairman of the Borough Council’s Public Works Committee.

