There shall be created a Sidewalk Commission in the Village, consisting of six individuals. Four shall be residents of the Village, one Councilperson, and Zoning Inspector. One member shall be from each quadrant of the Village.
(a) The Sidewalk Commissioners shall be appointed by the Mayor with the consent of Council and shall serve four years without compensation. The first appointments shall be for one to four years with a new member being appointed yearly thereafter.
(b) The Sidewalk Commission shall meet quarterly and keep accurate records of their meetings as provided by law, forwarding minutes of each meeting to Council within fifteen days after each meeting.
(c) Whenever it is reasonably necessary to protect and preserve the health and safety of the residents of the Village, as well as the public at large, the Council, upon the recommendation of the Sidewalk Commission, shall require the new construction of sidewalks or the repair of existing sidewalks by a majority vote thereof. When the Council orders the installation of new sidewalks or the repair of existing sidewalks without the recommendation of the Sidewalk Commission, said order shall be by ordinance, approved by at least five members.
(1) The block in which such lot or land is located contains sidewalks fronting on fifty percent or more of the real estate on one or both sides of the street;
(2) The block in which the lot or land is located is situated in such a manner that new sidewalks are necessary in order to complete the pattern of sidewalks created by adjacent or nearby blocks having sidewalks; or to complete the pattern of sidewalks necessary to join existing sidewalk patterns with local pedestrian generating facilities; or
(3) It is deemed necessary and advisable to provide a sidewalk pattern between corner intersections having existing sidewalks.
(d) All initial complaints and/or sidewalk requests should be directed to the Zoning Inspector.
(e) Property owners may submit applications for variances to the Sidewalk Commission. These requests must be submitted within fifteen days after receipt of the notice to either repair or construct sidewalks. The Sidewalk Commission shall forward all variance requests to the Zoning Board along with recommendations for consideration where:
(1) The character of the neighborhood is such that the installation of sidewalks would not serve any public purpose; or
(2) Where unique physical conditions make the installation of sidewalks an undue hardship, and the absence of this installation would not materially affect the public safety and convenience, including the requirement that a bond be posted where appropriate.
(Ord. 921. Passed 3-21-00.)