Thank you for reporting the site to the Town. We will be dispatching our inspector to the site to evaluate the sidewalk. Please allow us up to two weeks to conduct the inspection.

This is happening because of cars and delivery truck parking the sidewalk ALL THE TIME!!!! The town could easily fix this problem. I've seen a wheelchair-bound person forced into the street because the sidewalk was impassable. Horrible problem!!!

Here is another example!

The Engineering Department will inspect the site for damaged sidewalk. Parking on the sidewalk is a police matter.

BUT, If the traffic division would put up a few signs strategically placed No Parking signs along the curb then cars would not be able to park on the sidewalk. doesn't this make sense? I've called the police many times to alert them when the sidewalk is impassable and they say they will come, but that often when they get there the vehicle is gone. Placing signs as an obstruction to vehicles climbing the curb would permanently solve this problem so I don't know why you say its only a police matter. Isn't traffic in charge of designating where people are allowed to park? If they are not doing the job effectively then maybe they need to reassess the problem and find a solution. This really is very frustrating!!! I love on Hawthorne and my kid walks on the sidewalk there. What is going to take for the town to solve the problem??? When someone gets hit???

Delivery trucks and customers (and Hamden Police!!!!!) park on this sidewalk constantly. There has always been NO PARKING on the north side of this end of Hawthorne Av. but that is consistently ignored; new signage will be destroyed as in the past. The sidewalk is a mess and a new one will be destroyed promptly.

It’s negligence for the problem to be ignored. Thanks for the supporting comments.

Agreed, SGM72! I'm so tired of seeing no enforcement of the regulations prohibiting parking on the sidewalk like this. It blocks pedestrians, breaks up the sidewalk, and looks unsightly. I think this is a Quality of Life issue that was supposedly going to be emphasized more since an article in the NH Register this past Fall. It's widespread in Spring Glen and Whitneyville.

Thanks, Moonman! The Spring Glen Civic Association is meeting Thursday the 28th on the second floor of the Spring Glen Church starting a 6:00 pm. Its one platform for discussion. Unfortunately, I cannot make the meeting that night.

You might consider asking the Traffic Authority for help. They have jurisdiction over both police and traffic issues. Here's a link to their website: http://www.hamden.com/content/7089/7093/7966/9622/default.aspx

Their next meeting is Wed., 3/13, in the 3rd floor conference room at Government Center, 2750 Dixwell, beginning at 5:45 pm. You'll need to submit a letter to the chairman, Michael Iezzi, in advance. Best to submit via hard copy and also by email, with cc's to police chief and also to Bob Pattison, president of the Spring Glen Civic Association. The sooner you submit your letter, the better your chance of getting on the 3/13/19 agenda. Here are addresses:

FOR THE HAND-DELIVERED PRINT LETTER:
Mr. Michael Iezzi, Chair
Hamden Traffic Authority
c/o Hamden Police Department
2900 Dixwell Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518

cc: Acting Chief John Cappiello (same address as Iezzi's)
cc: Bob Pattison, president, Spring Glen Civic Association (sending his copy via email only should be fine)

FOR THE E-MAILED VERSION OF THE LETTER:
emails: miezzi@hamdenpd.com
jcappiello@hamdenpd.com
Bob Pattison's email address is: butnodog@comcast.net

Based on our inspection of the condition of the sidewalk, this site has been elevated to our claims list. Our contractors are currently on other job sites. We are scheduling the site as our on call contractors become available and we work through the claims list. Please be aware we schedule our claims list on a triage basis and handle the worst first.

This damaged sidewalk continues to pose a serious safety and accessibility issue on Hawthorne. It is a tripping hazard and I have seen someone using a wheelchair have to be assisted into the street to get around this impassable area.

Sadly, if the sidewalk gets fixed, please take a photo ASAP, because after few days it'll look as it did previously. Delivery trucks and customers park on the sidewalk. I've even seen a police vehicle or two doing the same thing.

Dear Residents,
As the engineering inspector for the Town of Hamden, I would be the employee who would coordinate with the contractor for the sidewalk repair/replacement. First, I will check out the area of concern. Second, with the additional information you provided (thank you!), I will ensure that when the sidewalk is worked on, the sidewalk will be of greater thickness, the sub-base as well, reinforced with wire mesh or steel rebar, and if also needed, going over those normal standards to guarantee years of use. Then I will coordinate with traffic/PZ, etc. to properly mark off the area and install proper signage. In the meantime, if there are issues associated with improper/"illegal" parking, etc. the Hamden Police should be notified. If you have any additional comments, questions, or significant emotional outbursts :) please let me know. Below is my contact information:

Matthew G. Kott
Engineering Inspector
Town of Hamden
Hamden Government Center
2750 Dixwell Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
Office: 203-287-7048
Work Mobile: 203-584-2833
Private Mobile: 860-794-7438
mkott@hamden.com

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