What Residents Need to Know About the Revised Sidewalk Maintenance Guidelines
Since the spring, Glen Rock residents have been actively sharing concerns, frustrations, and suggestions about the borough’s sidewalk ordinance, both the longstanding rules and the recent revisions. These conversations have played out across various Glen Rock Facebook groups and during public meetings, including the July 23, 2025 Borough Council meeting.
The goal of today’s piece in The Glen Rock Roundup is to help summarize the remarks made by Department of Public Works Director Bob Buono during the public comment portion at the end of that July 23 meeting (start at 2:23:20). While also taking a look at DPW's recently updated "Sidewalk Maintenance Guidelines".
At the July 23 session, Buono addressed ongoing confusion and controversy surrounding sidewalk repair requirements. He provided a detailed explanation of the borough’s sidewalk inspection process and introduced a significant update, the option to grind down uneven sidewalk slabs in certain cases.
Buono, who oversees the borough’s sidewalk inspection process, explained that Glen Rock follows the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) when evaluating sidewalks. And that our process is similar to many municipalities in the area.
He described the inspection process and the tools used by the sidewalk inspector:
“We do have a what I'll call is a jig that is a quarter inch and we have one that's a half inch. He'll take that and he'll measure the sidewalks to see if there is anything that is wrong with the sidewalk. Again, following the guidelines.”
A significant change introduced this year is that grinding is now allowed for vertical differences between one-quarter inch and one-half inch. This option was added following a recommendation from the borough engineer and could present a most cost effective alternative to replacing slabs.
Buono stated, “[You] can do grinding now of the sidewalk up to a half inch. But it has to meet the slope has to be correct; has to be slip-resistant.”
Buono also explained that when tree roots cause sidewalks to lift, the borough offers residents the option to reroute the sidewalk slightly onto their property to preserve the tree. This is often discussed during re-inspections when tree-related issues are identified.
He clarified that most public right-of-ways in Glen Rock measure 50 feet in width. Typically, this includes 30 feet for the street between curbs and 10 feet of space on either side, which can include sidewalks and grassy areas. Understanding these dimensions helps residents see how a sidewalk reroute might legally extend into their own yard while remaining compliant.
Buono emphasized that the borough’s goal is public safety, not issuing violations:
“The borough is not in the business to issue violations. We want to make sure your sidewalk and area that you transverse, whether it's vehicular traffic, whether it's pedestrian traffic, bicycles - we want to make sure that that area is safe.”
He went on to say that, “Even though there are some times that someone calls in or does notifies us somehow, and that person may have thought it was a hazard and it may not be, it doesn't matter. We still have to investigate that hazard.”
Buono closed by inviting residents to reach out directly to the Department of Public Works.
The borough also posted a written update on its website on July 23. It reiterates that Glen Rock has had a sidewalk ordinance since 1974, and that homeowners are responsible for keeping sidewalks safe and in good repair. Sidewalks are routinely assessed during home sales and when issues are reported by residents. The update also noted two changes:
- Residents who receive a notice will now also receive a copy of the sidewalk safety standards to help them understand what needs repair.
- Residents now have more time to make necessary repairs.
The Department of Public Works has published updated maintenance guidelines that include four permitted repair methods: grinding, resetting, patching, or full replacement. These details, along with technical standards, can be found in the PDF linked in the borough’s official update: View the Sidewalk Maintenance Guidelines.