NORTH SMITHFIELD – Trees planted beside the sidewalks along Summit Avenue and White Parkway have caused damage to the pedestrian walkways, leaving at least one councilor frustrated about what she says are ongoing safety hazards in the area.
Councilor Claire O’Hara, who lives in a home on Summit Avenue, first brought the issue to the board speaking as a private resident last month. This week, Councilor John Beauregard joined her in sponsoring an agenda item for formal discussion of the problem.
O’Hara noted that the wrong type of trees were planted throughout the area years ago under direction of former Town Administrator Robert Lowe.
“The slabs have made it to the front of my stairs,” O’Hara said of the sidewalk surface. “It was flat. It is no longer flat. It’s dangerous.”
Town Administrator Scott Gibbs said that he and Public Works Director Raymond Pendergast have been discussing the issue and considering a town-wide assessment of sidewalk conditions.
“We want to figure out how we go about doing that,” said Gibbs. “We’re starting to think about it internally.”
Gibbs noted that the city of Woonsocket’s plan to build a middle school just across the road from the two residential streets could further complicate the issue.
“It’s a pretty extensive project that they’re talking about there,” Gibbs said. “That’s going to have a huge impact in that corridor.”
But Beauregard questioned if the two streets should wait for completion of the larger town-wide assessment, noting the town could be liable if someone gets hurt.
“You can’t walk on those sidewalks,” he said. “They’re very, very bad. I think we should focus on the worst first. Someone is going to go down over there and we all know about it now.”
“There seems to be a significant liability related to sidewalks in town that may not necessarily be able to wait for the assessment,” agreed Councilor Rebecca DeCristofaro.
Pendergast said the temporary answer to potential liability concerns would be to put up barrels and cones to shut down sidewalks. He said he’s been told that the trees were planted years ago by the Department of Public Works under the direction of Lowe.
“All the residents on those streets wanted those trees,” Pendergast said.
O’Hara vehemently disputed the statement.
“They wanted dwarf trees that Mr. Lowe promised,” O’Hara shouted.
Pendergast agreed that the now troublesome Maples were not what the town originally ordered decades ago, but were delivered in error, and that DPW was instructed to plant the trees anyway.
He also pointed to another major obstacle to taking quick action.
“We do not have any money budgeted for sidewalks. Zero,” Pendergast said. “We’re going to have to figure that out.”
“Sidewalks are very expensive so we have to figure that out,” Gibbs agreed.
Gibbs said he will continue to pursue plans for an assessment along with costs for a prioritized list of sidewalks to be fixed to bring before the council. He said he will also look into the issue of a truck that’s been creating a safety problem by parking in Smithfield Road – a state-controlled roadway – following urging by O’Hara.
Her frustration was clear during the council’s roughly 20 minute discussion on Monday, as she said she’s considered taking action on the sidewalk herself.
“I’m cutting that thing down and I’ll deduct it from my taxes,” O’Hara said of the tree in front of her home. “Put me in jail. I need a vacation.”
DeCristofaro requested an update on the issue for the next Town Council meeting.
It’s an easy fix. I just had mine done like that by my city. Lifted up the old ucky slab, and adjoining one, and put in cement fill and leveled. Caulked the seams and voila! They did a bunch on our street …all in One day. Nice. Why make a mountain out of a molehill. Town should fix it. If someone trips, town gets sued. Save, by fixing it. Lol.
Folks, check historical regulations and practices on sidewalks. We lived in NS for 40+ years and were told installation of sidewalks was by developers contractors and the maintenance the responsibility of the landowner. In about 1980 the superintendent of schools asked the town to fix the sidewalk at Kendall Dean school. The Town Administration response was that it was School Dept. responsibility to maintain ITS own sidewalk. There has never been a line item in the Town Budget for sidewalks or their maintenance because those were responsibility of the landowners.
It’s all in the language….first 5 feet from street to house is usually city property. Pretty much the norm in all places I have lived. Homeowner responsible for cleaning it, mowing it, shoveling it, or face citations, fines. Per ordinance if one exists. Yet…the city has always been responsible for the concrete sidewalk physical condition/maintenance of, once the developer has met all building obligations, setbacks, etc. ….and turns it over to city. It’s never the homeowner’s land per se, of the 5 feet frontage ownership…..and any respective easements. This town needs to get into this century….and clear up any and all confusion that seems to exist here. Ain’t the horse and buggy days …..lol.
Well, this issue surprised me. We lived in NS for 40+ years and were told in 1976 that sidewalk maintenance was the responsibility of the property owner and was installed by the developer building the property it fronts. I suspect THAT is the reason there is no town budget for sidewalks or their maintenance.
Look a bit deeper into the historical regulations and practices before assuming “the government has the responsibility” to do anything with sidewalks. I recall the School Department Superintendent asking the town to fix the sidewalk at Kendall Dean in writing and the then TA’s response that it was the school department’s obligation to maintain the sidewalk.
This pic is of next door to Ms O Hara house to be specific, not her house, upon Google check.
She’s right. Wrong tree planted in a wrong area to begin with. Trees should never ever have been planted there, roots. Roots reach and often inflict damage to underground pipes and electrical. Further costs. Common sense! My town bans them on hell strips as this one shown is, and the first five feet from street. Needs to go. Sidewalk then gets redone. Need an ordinance to control stupid plantings….
Town has not allocated for, nor does inspections regularly on sidewalk conditions? Wow. This is town management 101, basic needs for safety. Sad. Makes me wonder what the heck the town workers do…..our town’s trucks drive by weekly to monitor conditions! And before and after storms! Clean storm drains with shovels and brooms at these times…..yikes NS! Not like you have a large city there!
No different from when you complain about people parking on Providence pike during sports games. Same size fish you’re frying. And the summit ave sidewalk is a lawsuit waiting to happen!!! Would kill you to say Claire is correct and just agree with her wouldn’t it?
Claire is correct but this is a larger problem from years of neglect of NS roads and sidewalks. Many streets have potholes and uneven payment but nothing is being done about theses issues. Just drive down Smithfield road in from of the police station and avoid all of the pot holes. So if someone would stop reducing the roads budget and the town actually maintained the roads we could avoid problems. But instead NS is focused on senior centers and 146 water projects when the current infrastructure is crumbling.
Isn’t Smithfield road a state road ? Not a town road ?
Yes but someone needs to call to get it fixed an paved. The only reason the moguls at intersection at Providence Street and some of the holes get cold patch is because I called RI DOT because got forbid the town administrator, public works director, police department, or any other town employee could lobby the state to pave a road in NS. When was the last time route 5 or another road in NS was paved by the state. Not many.
Route 7 was just paved within the last six months. And I believe Providence Pike was paved within the last seven years. That’s when sounds like you’re angry and bitter at everyone….
Some roads that were rated 7-9 on the road report just recently got kinda fixed, some weren’t touched, some were “fixed” but made worse.
Route 5, Smithfield road, pound hill round, and great road are all a mess and are in need of repair. But instead you defend the people not maintaining the roads, bury your head in the sand, and don’t face the reality that your state tax dollars are not being reinvested in NS but in other RI communities. What you call angry and bitter is really called making the state accountable to do their job and maintain roads. Other communities are actively lobbying the state to keep on top of road maintenance but in NS you chose to sit by and hope roads will eventually get paid. I am waiting for the day you actually add some value to your community.
Maybe it’s our wonderful democratic state leadership that shuns a more red leaning town. I’m guessing that if local cities and towns aren’t in lock step with the democratic machine, those towns aren’t getting much.
Now what evidence do you have that town leadership isn’t advocating to the state for road repairs?
I am waiting for the day you actually add some value to your community other than insinuate falsehoods and conspiracy theories.
Ok Trumper. I actually got the road fixed at the corner of Smithfield Road and Providence Street when NS had moguls at the corner. I also call the state to repair pothole on state roads and they actually get filled each time. Also my evidence is when I called the state about the moguls I was told this was the first they heard of the issue and I was also told the town never calls on pothole issues. So maybe if you stopped believing the con man and criminal in Washington and actually did something maybe things may get done. I am still waiting to hear your value because I do not get paid to call the state on the towns behalf to get things done.
Lots going on there “DT”……Glad to hear that you are NS #1 Citizen On Patrol! Thank you for your service and dedication!!!
Perhaps run for office and get paid if you are doing that much work AND that effective at getting things done. Apparently no one else in town is….who asked you to make those phone calls you aren’t getting paid for?
Maybe you could put a call in and help the folks of white parkway and summit?
Pound Hill isn’t a state road.
Correct, apologies that should have read Providence Pike; not Pound Hill.
Been down that road once, literally n figuratively….wrong the first time….Town Fathers please don’t compound previous placation and inappropriate expenditure!
Oh dear god! If that isn’t the absolute worst sidewalk that I have ever seen in this town. Some of us wish that we had one with trees planted for shade. The sidewalks on Summit and White Parkway are two of the best examples of what communities want and deserve, sidewalks and shade trees. From what I observed driving by, Claire’s sidewalk is the only one affected. As Mr Prendergast suggested, “maybe we should rope it off, for safety.” You want the full story, watch the TC meeting on YouTube and make some popcorn. There are much bigger fish to fry!
Glad you think ignoring a damaged and displaced sidewalk which is a liability to the town and danger to residents in the area is the appropriate course of action. Wonder if your reasons is solely based you who brought this issue forward.
Osier last session did, or did you forget that j/t/t/j? When something about grants for new sidewalks was brought to their attention. But good talk.
Well if Claire had any real interest in other issues, she might address them rather than just her own….in this case it’s me, me and more me….she spends an awful lot of time in Slatersville, so maybe she should open her eyes to other areas of town that might need improvement. Certainly, liability is this town’s middle name..but rope it off and put cones, as Ray suggested. Not doing that is the liability at this time. When monies become available, we then can prioritize based on need, not name.