(Charter references--Department of public works to be responsible for the functions and services of the city relative to highways, Ch. X, Art. 2, Sec. 2; department of public works to be responsible for the functions and services of the city relative to street lighting, Ch. X, Art. 2, Sec. 2. Cross references--Animals and fowl, Ch. 5; buildings and building regulations, Ch. 7; unlawful deposits, Sec. 10-4; health and sanitation, Ch. 11; housing, Ch. 12; traffic, Ch. 17; water and sewers and sewage disposal, Ch. 18; subdivision regulations, App B; zoning, App. C; master plan, App. D. State law reference--Highways, G.L. 1956, Secs. 11-22-1 et seq., 24-1-1 et seq.)
The city clerk shall cause an alphabetical list of the names of all streets and highways in the city to be made and entered in a suitable book to be kept for that purpose, so far as such names appear of record in his office or are known by him to have been authoritatively given. He shall continue such list by adding thereto from time to time the names of all streets and highways of which any record is made in his office. Hereafter no plat shall be recorded or filed in the city clerk's office containing a duplicate name of any street previously recorded in the book aforesaid; nor shall any street having such duplicate name be hereafter accepted by the city until such name shall have been changed. Upon the replacement for any reason, including, but not limited to, theft, vandalism or ordinary course maintenance, of any sign indicating the name of a street in the City, the name of the street shall be indicated on the replacement sign using reflective white lettering. No other color shall be used to indicate the name of any City street on any such replacement singage. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 15, Sec. 6, Ch. 7319, Sec. 1, 3-20-07)
No person shall deposit, place or put, or suffer to be deposited, placed or put by any person in his employ, any goods, wares, firewood, coal, chattels or merchandise in any public street or highway in this city, except while landing or shipping or actually removing the same into or out of some building or enclosure or loading the same into or unloading the same out of some vehicle. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 10)
(a) No person shall, for the purpose of erecting or repairing any building, erect or cause to be erected any staging or deposit any building material or rubbish or remains of an old building in any street or highway in this city without a written license from the director of public works.
(b) In erecting any building situated on any street or highway in the city or doing any other work, no person shall place or deposit, nor suffer to remain in any part of such street or highway, any lumber or other building material or any rubbish or remains of any old building, for any longer period than may be necessary from time to time for the prosecution of the work which may be going on; and in case any lumber or any rubbish or building material or remains of any old building must of necessity remain after dark, a sufficient light shall be kept or placed over or near the same throughout the whole of the night, so as to give sufficient notice to all persons passing in or through such street or highway. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Secs. 17, 18)
Cross reference--Buildings and building regulations, Ch. 7.
No person shall place or cause to be placed, or shall suspend or cause to be suspended from any house, shop, store, lot or place over any street in the city, any goods, wares, or merchandise whatsoever so that the same will project into the public highway more than one (1) foot, unless the same shall be at least eight (8) feet above such street or highway. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 32)
No person shall ride, drive or leave any animal, or move or trundle any vehicle upon any sidewalk of the city, except light carriages for the conveyance of children, unless for the purpose of necessarily crossing the same, or shall allow any animal belonging to him or under his care to stand on the sidewalk; or shall saw, split or cut firewood or lumber on any sidewalk, or shall break up any coal on such sidewalk. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 30)
Cross references--Animals and fowl, Ch. 5; traffic, Ch. 17.
(a) No person shall deposit, place or put, or suffer to be deposited, placed or put by any person in his employ, any goods, wares, firewood, coal, chattels or merchandise upon any sidewalk in the city so that the same shall extend or project into the public highway more than sixteen (16) inches, except while landing or shipping, or actually removing the same into or out of some building or enclosure, or loading or unloading the same into or out of some vehicle.
(b) Merchants in the business district of the city shall be permitted to display and sell goods, wares and other merchandise upon the sidewalks immediately in front of their respective establishments, upon one (1) day each year, as may be authorized by the director of public works. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 31; Ch. No. 1703, Sec. 1, 4-16-62)
Three (3) or more persons shall not stand in a group near each other or on any foot or sidewalk in the city so as to obstruct a free passage for foot passengers. Any person obstructing any foot or sidewalk shall move on immediately when requested so to do by any police officer. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 26)
No awning shall be placed or continued over any sidewalk in the city unless the supports and every part of such awning shall be at least eight (8) feet above the sidewalk. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 35)
Whenever any sidewalk in the city becomes obstructed or made impassable by reason of the erecting or repairing of any building or of the doing of any work, the person doing or causing the same to be done, shall place or cause to be placed a good and convenient temporary walk around such obstruction. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 34)
Except as authorized under the provisions of the zoning ordinance of the city, no person shall place or cause to be placed, nor continue, nor suffer to be continued when placed, over any sidewalk or street of the city, any sign of any kind or material whatsoever without written permission from the director of public works, which permission shall be revocable. Any person having such permission shall in all respects conform to any direction in relation to the location, extent, construction and maintenance of such sign, which shall be given by the director of public works. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 20; Ch. 6080, Sec. 1, 6-5-95)
State law reference--Business or commercial advertisements, G.L. 1956, Sec. 11-22-2.
No person shall expose, display, post up or exhibit any placard, poster, bill or picture of any show, exhibition, theatrical or other performance in or on any building, billboard, wall or fence on any street or highway in this city, without such placard, poster, bill or picture having been approved by the chief of police. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 21)
Cross reference--Amusements, Ch. 4.
No person shall distribute, or cause to be distributed, any handbill, circular, program, or advertising slip in or upon any street or sidewalk in this city. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 22)
(Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 26; Ch. No. 6730, Sec. 1, 6-5-00)
(Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 48; Ch. No. 6730, Sec. 1, 6-5-00)
No person shall carry or convey nor cause to be carried or conveyed in any street, highway, square or park in the city any sand, gravel, loam, fill, ashes, bituminous coal, rubbish, bituminous asphalt, petroleum asphalt, asphalt products or other similar material unless the receptacle or vehicle containing such sand, gravel, loam, fill, ashes, bituminous coal, rubbish, bituminous asphalt, petroleum asphalt, asphalt products or other materials shall be closely covered.
(Ch. No. 2526, Sec. 6, 5-4-70)
Cross reference--Traffic, Ch. 17.
State law reference--Scattering debris on highway, G.L. 1956, Sec. 11-22-10.
No person shall place, throw, pour or spatter or cause to be placed, thrown, poured or spattered any water upon any sidewalk in this city.
(Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 38)
Cross reference--Water and sewers and sewage disposal, Ch. 18.
Section 1. Illicit Discharges
Illicit discharges to the municipal storm sewer system are comprised of non-storm water discharges that are expressly prohibited from the municipal storm sewer system unless the discharges have received all required federal, state and local permits including the Rhode Island Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (RIPDES) or is included in one of the following categories of discharges: discharges which result from the washdown of vehicles at retail dealers selling new and used automobiles where no detergents are used and individual residential car washing; external building washdown where no detergents are used; the use of water to control dust; fire fighting activities; fire hydrant flushing; natural springs; uncontaminated groundwater; dechlorinated pool discharges; air conditioning condensate; lawn watering; ptable water sources including waterline flushing; irrigation drainage; pavement washwaters where spills or leaks of toxic or hazardous materials have not occurred (unless all spilled materials have been removed) and where detergents are not used; discharges from foundation or footing drains whee flows are not contaminated with process materials such as solvents, or contaminated by contact with soils where spills or leaks of toxic or hazardous materials have occurred; uncontaminated utility vault dewatering; dechlorinated water line testing water; hydrostatic test water that does not contain any treatment chemicals and is not contaminated with process chemicals.
Section 2 Right of Entry
To the extent permitted by State law, or if authorized by the owner or other party in control of the property, the Director of Public Works and/or his/her designated representative may enter upon privately owned property for the purpose of performing their duties under this ordinance and may make or cause to be made such examinations, surveys or sampling as the City deems reasonably necessary.
Section 3 Notification of Spills
Notwithstanding other requirements of law, as soon as any person responsible for a facility or operation, or responsible for emergency response for a facility or operation has any known or suspected release of materials which are resulting or may result in unauthorized discharges or pollutant discharging into storm water, the storm drain system, or waters of the State from said facility, said person shall take all necessary steps to ensure the discovery,. containment, and cleanup of such release. In the event of such a release of a hazardous material said person shall immediately notify emergency response officials of the occurrence via emergency dispatch services (911). In the event of a release of non-hazardous materials, said person shall notify the authorized enforcement agency no later than the next business day. Notifications in person or by phone call shall be confirmed by written notice addressed and mailed to the authorized enforcement agency with five (5) business days of the phone notice. If the discharge of the prohibited materials emanates from a commerical or industrial establishment, the owner or operator of such establishment shall also retain an on-site written record of the discharge and the action taken to prevent its recurrent. Such records shall be retained for at least three years. Nothing in this section shall preclude any owner/lessee from compliance with relevant provisions of the Rhode Island Clean Water Act, R.I.G.L. 46-12-1, et seq. or other applicable laws or regulations.
Section 4 Enforcement
1. If an illicit discharge to the municipal storm sewer system is detected, the owner shall cease the discharge. If the discharge does not cease within seven (7) calendar days, the owner may be fine seventy-five ($75) per calendar day that the violation goes un-repaired and the City of Woonsocket shall have the rights to take whatever action it deems necessary to correct the violations and to assess a lien on the subject property in an amount equal to the cost of the remedial actions. The lien shall be enforced in the manner provided or authorized by law for the enforcement of common law liens on personal property. The lien shall be recorded in the land evidence records of the City of Woonsocket and shall incur legal interest from the date of the recording. The imposition of any penalty shall not exempt the offendor from compliance with the provisions of this ordinance, including revocation of the Permit Bond or assessment of a lien on the property.
2. Any individual or other party is prohibited from discharging waste, including construction waste, building material, truck washout, chemicals, litter, sanitary wastes or other waste into the City Right of Way, storm drain, or other city property. If such a violation occurs the city may fine the violator two hundred ($200) and required removal of the waste within ten (10) calendar days at the violator's expense. The City may charge the violator any costs associated with removal or repair of damage resulting from the violation.
(Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Secs. 39, 40; Ch. No. 6730, Sec. 1, 6-5-00; Ch. 7192, Sec. 1-3, 3-21-05)
No person shall place, throw or deposit or cause to be placed, thrown or deposited any dirt or sweepings upon any sidewalk in the city. This shall not apply under the following conditions:
(1) The removal of sand by sweeping or other means by the city or its contractors;
(2) The placing of sand or other proper substances on sidewalks encumbered by ice or snow.
(Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 41; Ch. No. 6251, Sec. 1, 5-20-96)
Cross reference--Garbage and trash, Ch. 10.
No owner or tenant of an estate, or any person having the care of any building or lot of land abutting on any sidewalk situated within the limits of the city, shall place or suffer to remain for more than four (4) hours between sunrise and sunset, any snow upon such sidewalk. The provisions of this section shall apply to the falling of snow from any building.
(Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 42)
(a) Before or after any street, sidewalk or public highway in the city has been snowplowed by the authorities of the city, no person shall deposit, or 'cause to be deposited, any snow upon the surface of such street, sidewalk or public highway.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant of any property, which abuts a fire hydrant, when removing snow, ice, hail or sleet to deposit same in such a manner that said actions should:
(l) Obscure visibility of any fire hydrant; or
(2) Obstruct or impede access to any fire hydrant.
First offense shall receive a written warning via first class mail.
Second offense shall be fined $50.00.
Third and more offense shall be fined $100.00.
(Ch. No. 2837, Sec. 1, 11-20-72; Ch. No. 7588, Sec. 1, 3-14-11)
(a) The purchasing agent is hereby authorized to hire necessary vehicles for city use during snow emergencies.
(b) The rate of payment for the rental of:
40,000 GVW with vendor furnished plow/frame (no sander), not to exceed $175.00 per hour;
40,000 GVW with vendor furnished plow/frame with sander, not to exceed $200.00 per hour;
¾ Ton Four-wheel drive with vendor furnished plow/frame (no sander), not to exceed $110.00 per hour;
¾ Ton Four-wheel drive with vendor furnished plow/frame with sander, not to exceed $150.00 per hour;
Bobcat or Skid steer, not to exceed $120.00 per hour;
3 CY Loader, not to exceed $150.00 per hour;
3 CY to 6 CY Loader; not to exceed $250.00 per hour;
Backhoe, not to exceed $150.00 per hour.
(Ch. No. 8328, Sec. 1, 9-12-2022)
(c) Funds for the payment of vehicles so hired shall come from Operating Budget Account No. 178-053-242.
(Ch. No. 2749, Secs. 1--3, 11-15-71; Ch. No. 3575, Sec. 1, 12-29-78; Ch. No. 3681, Sec. 1, 12-3-79; Ch. No. 3812, Sec. 1, 12-15-80; Ch. No. 4083, Secs. 1, 2, 12-6-82; Ch. No. 4209, Secs. 1, 2, 11-21-83; Ch. No. 4359, Secs. 1, 2, 12-2-84; Ch. No. 4490, Secs. 1, 2, 12-12-85; Ch. 4649, Sec. 1, 1-20-87; Ch. No. 4869, Secs. 1, 2, 12-7-87; Ch. No. 6424, Sec. 1, 11-12-97; Ch. No. 6903, Sec. 1, 10-15-01; Ch. 8268, Sec. 1, 9-13-2021)
No owner or tenant of an estate, or any person having the care of any building or lot of land abutting on any sidewalk situated within the limits of the city, shall suffer to remain for more than two (2) hours between sunrise and sunset, any ice upon such sidewalk, unless such ice is made even and covered with sand or some suitable substance to prevent slipping. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 43)
(Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 53; Ch. No. 655, Secs. 1, 2, 12-10-29; Ch. No. 660, Sec. 1, 2-10-30; Ch. No. 6730, Sec. 1, 6-5-00)
No person shall erect or move any post in any street or highway in the city except by the consent of the city council. (Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 40, Sec. 5)
(Ch. No. 2384, Sec. 1, 2-11-69; Ch. No. 6730, Sec. 1, 6-5-00)
(a) It is the primary purpose of this section to provide a prompt and simple method of constructing sidewalks and curbing for property owners desiring the same with a minimum expenditure of municipal funds. It is not intended nor shall it be construed as being in conflict with existing ordinances pertaining to sidewalks and curbings.
(b) Any person who is an owner of real estate which abuts on a public street or highway in the city and who desires that a sidewalk or curbing, or both, be constructed along such street or highway abutting such property may make application therefore to the director of public works.
(c) The cost of constructing such sidewalk or curbing, or both, shall be apportioned equally between the city and the abutting owner who has made application for such construction.
(d) The abutting owner who has made application for such construction shall be required upon notification to deposit with the city treasurer an amount equal to one-half (1/2) of the estimated cost of such construction, which deposit shall be made prior to the commencement of such construction. The estimated cost of such construction which is the basis for such deposit shall be computed by the director of public works after an investigation of the various elements which will affect the cost of the work to be performed. The portion of the cost of such construction which must be borne by the city shall be paid from the appropriate public works department funds.
(e) The city treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all deposits so made and shall deposit all monies so received in a special account for sidewalk and curbing deposits.
(f) After application for sidewalk and/or curbing having been made as provided in subsection (b) and the deposit paid as provided in subsection (d), the director of public works shall schedule the construction of the sidewalk and/or curbing. Such construction shall be done either by employees of the public works department, or in the discretion of the director of public works such construction may be contracted for with a private contracting firm in accordance with regular purchasing procedures. In any event, accurate records shall be kept of the costs incurred in the performance of the work on the basis of each application.
(g) After completion of the construction of the sidewalk and/or curbing in accordance with the application therefor, the director of public works shall ascertain the actual cost of such work. If the actual cost of such work shall be less than the estimated cost which was the basis for the deposit as provided in subsection (d), then the director of public works will direct the city treasurer to rebate to the depositor an amount equal to one-half (1/2) of the excess of the estimated cost over the actual cost. If the actual cost of such work exceeds the estimated cost, then the director of public works shall direct the city treasurer to charge the depositor in an amount equal to one-half (1/2) of the excess of the actual cost over the estimated cost and such charge if not paid shall be certified to the tax assessor of the city as a charge against the real estate of the depositor.
(h) The city treasurer shall make disbursements from such special account for sidewalk and curbing deposits upon presentation of duly authenticated vouchers issued by the director of public works.
(i) The foregoing provisions shall apply to sidewalks constructed according to specifications established by the public works department of the City of Woonsocket.
(j) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any person who is an owner of real estate which abuts on a public street or highway in the city may have constructed a sidewalk utilizing asphalt or curbing utilizing cement, or both, along such street or highway abutting said property in accordance with the following procedure:
(1) Make application therefore to the director of public works, together with plans and specifications of said work;
(2) The cost of constructing such sidewalk or curbing, or both, shall be paid in full by the abutting owner who has made application for such construction.
(3) The abutting owner who has made application for such construction shall be required upon notification to deposit with the city treasurer an amount equal to all the estimated cost of such construction, which deposit shall be made prior to the commencement of such construction. The estimated cost of such construction, which is the basis for such deposit, shall be computed by the director of public works after an investigation of the various elements which will affect the cost of the work to be performed.
(4) The city treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all deposits so made, and shall deposit all monies so received in a special account for sidewalk and curbing deposits.
(5) After application, herein, for sidewalk and/or curbing having been made as provided herein, and the deposit paid, the director of public works shall schedule the construction of the sidewalk and/or curbing. Such construction shall be done either by employees of the public works department, or in the discretion of the director of public works such construction may be contracted for with a private contracting firm in accordance with regular purchasing procedures. In any event, accurate records shall be kept of the costs incurred in the performance of the work on the basis of each application.
(6) After completion of the construction of the sidewalk and/or curbing in accordance with the application therefore, the director of public works shall ascertain the actual cost of such work. If the actual cost of such work shall be less than the estimated cost which was the basis for the deposit, then the director of public works will direct the city treasurer to rebate to the depositor said amount of the excess of the estimated cost over the actual cost. If the actual cost of such work exceeds the estimated cost, then the director of public works shall direct the city treasurer to charge the depositor in any amount equal to the excess of the actual cost over the estimated cost, and such charge if not paid shall be certified to the tax assessor of the city as a charge against the real estate of the depositor. (Ch. No. 991, Secs. 1--8, 9-16-53; Ch. No. 3582, Sec. 1, 2-5-79)
(a) Whenever it shall appear to the satisfaction of the director of public works that surface waters, drainage or other accumulations of water are emanating or flowing from any premises (residential or commercial) and said waters are either being pumped or diverted or allowed to flow onto the surface of any city roads or roads customarily maintained by the city, the director of public works, after conferring with the director of public safety, may, if they determine such instances constitute a threat to the public safety, notify the owner, lessor, lessee or other responsible individual of said premises in writing forthwith of the existence of such nuisance and direct the said individual, firm or corporation to remove, abate or re-direct the flow of said waters within twenty-four (24) hours in such a manner so as not to constitute a nuisance and not cause a hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
(b) Any person, firm or corporation, whether as principal, agent, employee, lessor or lessee or otherwise, who violates the provisions of this section and does not cease or redirect the flow of such waters as directed as aforesaid, shall be fined by an amount not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00); each day of the continued existence of any violation shall constitute a separate offense.
(c) If any section, clause, provision or portion of this section shall be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect any other section, clause, provision or portion of this section. (Ch. No. 2930, Sec. 1, 8-20-73)
(a) No right of any person to maintain, use or operate any poles, wires, cables, conduits, ducts, pipes, manholes, handholes or other appliances or appurtenances in any street or other traveled way in the city, shall be in preference or hindrance of public work in the city, and should any of the same in any way interfere with the construction, alteration or repair of public work in any such street or way, whether done by the city directly or by any contractor for the city, such person shall protect, alter or move any of the same so interfering to some other location in such street or way, or discontinue the use and operation thereof for the time being, as directed by the director of public works, without the city being liable for any damages suffered by such person thereby. The city shall notify such person a reasonable time in advance of any public work, which will interfere with any of the same or the use or operation thereof. In case such person shall fail to comply with any such directive of said director, the city may protect, alter or move the same, and recover the cost thereof from such person. In case such person shall fail to comply with any such directive of said director, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be fined in the amount not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each violation, each day to be considered a separate violation.
(b) Cost to protect, alter or move any facility described in section 16-27(a) shall be borne by the owner of the same, except that the following procedures shall apply in reimbursing any person or utility for such costs under federal and/or state programs:
(1) Open grants programs (which require detailed costs in an application).
a. The city and the public utility shall cooperate to determine costs to protect, alter or move any facility and said costs, if eligible, shall be included in the application.
b. The amount eligible and allowed by the funding agency for said costs shall be allowed as reimbursement to said public utility for the costs to protect, alter or move any facility.
(2) Flat grant programs (which do not require detailed costs in an application).
a. The city and the public utility shall cooperate to determine costs to protect, alter or move any facility during the design or planning stages.
b. The amount so determined, or any portion thereof, may be allowed as reimbursement to said public utility for the costs to protect, alter or move any facility upon approval by ordinance. (Ch. No. 3577, Sec. 1, 1-3-79)
No street in the City of Woonsocket, including those deeded to and accepted by the city as a public right-of-way, shall be declared a public highway to be maintained by the city until such street has been constructed or improved to the minimum standards established by the director of public works. (Ch. No. 4487, Sec. 1, 11-4-85)
(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish compulsory numbering of all buildings on all streets (public or private) within the corporate and jurisdictional limits of the City of Woonsocket to develop and improve the location identification of all buildings and to aid in the reduction of response time for emergency calls for local law enforcement, fire, medical, rescue and other emergency services and for the general welfare and convenience of the public at large.
(b) Assignment of Street Number. Any person, corporation or other owner entity, who is the owner of a building which has not been assigned a street number, shall, upon request to the director of public works, receive and be assigned a street number for street location identification of said owner's building.
(c) Duty and Responsibility To Post and Maintain Building Identification Number. It shall be the duty and responsibility of the owner of such building to erect and maintain the building identification number which has been assigned by the director of public works as hereinafter provided in this section.
(d) Location and Size of Building Identification Number. All building identification numbers shall be located and positioned in an area that is readily visible from the public right-of-way, or in the case of a private road or drive, in an area readily accessible to emergency vehicles responding to any public danger or emergency. Numbers shall be at least three (3) inches in height and shall be of a color which contrasts with the building surface upon which it is placed.
(e) Violation Penalty. Any owner of record of a building who fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to a penalty of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00). (Ch. No. 5153, Sec. 1, 8-7-89; Ch. No. 5269, Sec. 1, 5-21-90)
Editor's note--Ch. No. 5153, adopted Aug. 7, 1989 amended this Code by adding provisions designated by the editor as Sec. 16-29.
Cross reference--Buildings, Ch. 7.