Klaus signs amendment on sidewalk maintenance

President Václav Klaus has signed an amendment transferring responsibility for public sidewalks to municipalities. Until now, responsibility for sidewalks, keeping them ice-free in winter for example, has been up to the owners of adjacent properties. That was opposed by Civic Democrat Senator Jaroslav Kubera, who maintained that building owners being held accountable for public property was unfair. But the bill was opposed by the Union of Towns and Municipalities, as well as by Prague Mayor Pavel Bém, who has said the legislation will lead to a rise in spending by the city during the current economic downturn.