Macungie Council Pursues Improper Sidewalk Installation

Macungie Council member Chris Becker is on a “fact-finding mission.” 

At the council meeting on July 18 he said he is collecting information regarding the discrepancies with the installation of sidewalk curb ramps at Main and Chestnut streets in order to comply with the American with Disabilities Act.

When he has what he needs, Becker said, he will take his findings to Pat Connor, Project Manager, to discuss the discrepancies. 

To date, he has taken seven core samples of sidewalks and found they are only 2 1/2 inches in depth instead of the required four inches. 

But he has noticed of other problems with the sidewalks, as well, including lack of meshing before pouring the concrete, gaps and spaces larger than the standard requirements at the joints and  handicap ramps that are not the correct size.

“Those sidewalks probably won’t even make it through the winter,” said Mayor Rick Hoffman.

Council member Jean Nagle said, “I would think they [the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the installers] would be outraged that their contractors aren’t living up to the standards.”

Recently Hoffman, along with Borough Manager Chris Boehm, Becker, and six representatives from PennDOT met with Rep. Doug Reichley to discuss the situation.

The major concern involves who is responsible for repairs if the sidewalks deteriorate before a reasonable time. 

According to a new proposed sidewalk ordinance, the property owner will need to pay for the repairs, but according to Becker at a previous meeting, if they are improperly installed, that should not be.

Boehm said an inspection report received after the meeting with Reichley contains no information, other than that the work was done.  There are no measurements or details of any kind in the report, she said.

“We need to pursue this,” said Joseph Sikorski, council member.  “It is well worth it.”