The village of Fredonia is reminding residents that it’s up to homeowners to keep their sidewalks clear during winter months.

According to village code section 240 subsection three titled “duty to repair and maintain sidewalks” it states that “it shall be the duty of the owner of every parcel of real property adjoining a public sidewalk in the village of Fredonia to keep said sidewalks in good repair and in safe condition for public use and free from all obstruction or encumbrances so as to permit the free and safe use thereof by the public.”

“It’s been an ongoing issue this year especially along the heavily trafficked areas of Central Avenue and Temple Street,” Code Enforcement Office Chuck LaBarbera said on Wednesday. “Sidewalk plowing in the village is a courtesy and the DPW can’t be depended on to get to all the sidewalks in the village. They do the larger areas like Main Street and such, but it’s hard for them to get to everything.”

LaBarbera would like to remind village residents to be cautious as if there is an accident on sidewalks outside of their properties, or if a person was to get hit by a car because they had to walk in the road due to sidewalks not being cleared, that the homeowner could be liable.