NORWICH – At the suggestion of the finance and personnel committee, the City of Norwich Common Council decided Tuesday to continue the city’s sidewalk replacement program.

In October 2006, Senator Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton) announced that he would be giving the city $50,000 to go toward the program. “How the program is structured is up to the mayor and the city council,” he said in October.

The council had previously decided to operate the sidewalk program on a 50/50 basis. Aldermen in each ward approached residents whose sidewalks needed repair, and made a list of interested participants. City officials attempted to target groups of lineal properties in an attempt to maximize the number of sidewalks they could replace.