Village Counsel Gerard Fishberg is currently working on a local law to amend the village's sidewalk policy, according to First Deputy Mayor Peter Bee. Bee said at the August 17th Board of Trustees meeting that the Board is trying to move the issue along.

The Eastern Property Owners' Association has asked the Board to look into changing the sidewalk repair policy, which gives homeowners 30 days to pay for and repair their sidewalk, even if a Village tree has done the damage.

At a Board meeting in April, Robert Stark, Jr., president of the EPOA, called it a "stealth tax" and said he hoped the Village will change the policy so homeowners will not have to pay for the repair if it is deemed by the Village's Public Works Department that a Village tree was responsible for the damage. The EPOA passed a resolution in March calling for the cost of damage be paid out of a general Village expense fund.

Resident Bill Boyle cautioned the Board, saying any changes in the law could ultimately cost the Village a lot of money if more people try to claim that their sidewalk damage was caused by a Village tree.