GENEVA \u2014 In this Ontario County city, property owners are responsible for maintaining their sidewalks and clearing the snow.<\/p>\n
While that policy may or may not work on residential streets, it\u2019s not working downtown, noted Teresa Cerino, who operates the Water Street Caf\u00e9 with partner James Brown. However, the city does not appear ready to make changes to its existing policies.<\/p>\n
Cerino spoke at a City Council meeting earlier this month to express concerns with sidewalk maintenance and snow removal. She said it\u2019s a big issue not only for the popular Exchange Street restaurant, but other downtown businesses as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe maintenance of sidewalks is directly connected to the prosperity of our downtown,\u201d she told Council at its March 4 meeting.<\/p>\n
As an example, she pointed to uneven sidewalks in front of The Dove Block Project building, which is next door to the restaurant. Cerino said several people have tripped, fallen, and been injured.<\/p>\n
Many of Water Street\u2019s customers are older and use canes, walkers, and wheelchairs to get around, and uneven or unplowed sidewalks present a challenge, Cerino noted, while acknowledging that responsibility for sidewalk maintenance and snow removal lies with property owners.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, with so many property owners not living in Geneva, many are unaware of these issues, especially if there are no fines or violations given,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Cerino said the Dove Block and the city have been \u201cmade aware\u201d of the sidewalk issue, \u201cbut nothing has been done.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, there is good news for those uneven sidewalks in front of the historic building, which underwent major renovations in the past few years. Christopher Ryczek of Corbett Inc., a commercial interiors consultant that owns the Dove Block building, said the sidewalk in front of the Dove Block is being repaired.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have it scheduled to fix in the spring when the concrete can be applied and cured in appropriate weather,\u201d he said Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
Cerino told Council the city needs to take the lead on the issue of downtown sidewalk maintenance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe the city should have the ability to do the work that needs to be done and then bill the property owner, if code violations have not been corrected,\u201d she said. \u201cMaybe then hazards will be addressed in a reasonable timeline.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cerino said the maintenance issue also applies to snow removal, which she described as haphazard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis again is another property owner responsibility that is not being done in a unified or timely manner, because it\u2019s either passed down to the tenant in the lease or it is just simply ignored,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Cerino noted that Geneva Business Improvement District staff \u2014 in conjunction with the city\u2019s Department of Public Works \u2014 clear the crosswalk curb cuts, but that many times it leads to sidewalks covered in snow and ice. This discourages people from coming downtown \u201cuntil the snow melts,\u201d she believes.<\/p>\n
Cerino asked Council to consider a \u201ccoordinated and unified plan for downtown sidewalks, crosswalks, and streets.\u201d<\/p>\n
City Manager Amie Hendrix said the city expects to continue enforcing its existing sidewalk maintenance policies.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo further action has been taken at this time,\u201d Hendrix told the Finger Lakes Times this week. \u201cUnder the current sidewalk ordinance, property owners are responsible for clearing the sidewalks adjacent to their property. If a sidewalk is not cleared, residents can notify city staff by phone or email so enforcement can be addressed.\u201d<\/p>\n