257. Section 1. The council shall have supervision and control of all public highways, bridges, streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks and public grounds within the city and may  improve the same by grading, graveling, curbing, paving, repaying, constructing sidewalks or otherwise and shall have authority to lay out, open, widen, extend, straighten, alter, close, vacate, abolish or change the name of any highway, street or alley in the city whenever it shall deem the same a public improvement.

Expense of improvement.

258. Section 2. The expense of grading, graveling, curbing, paving, or otherwise improving any street, lane or alley in the city and the expense of laying out, opening, widening, extending or straightening any highway, street or alley in the city, may be paid by special assessment upon the property adjacent to or benefited by such improvement in the manner in this charter provided for levying and collecting special assessments; or in the discretion of the council, a portion of such costs and expenses may be paid by special assessments as aforesaid and the balance by the city, subject to the limitations in this charter contained.

259. Section 3. When the council shall deem it advisable to vacate, discontinue or abolish any street, alley or public ground, or any part thereof, it shall, by resolution, so declare and in the same resolution shall appoint a tune, not less than four (4) weeks hereafter, when they shall meet and hear objections thereto. Notice of such meeting, with a copy of said resolution, shall be published twice, not less than one week before. the time appointed for such meeting, in a newspaper published and circulating in the city.

Street grades.

260. Section 4. The council shall have authority to determine and establish the grades of all streets, avenues, alleys and sidewalks within the city, and to require improvements and buildings adjacent to or abutting upon such streets, alleys, or sidewalks to be made and constructed in conformity with such grade and upon such line as shall be prescribed by the council; and the council may change or alter the grade of any street, alley or sidewalk or any part thereof, whenever in its opinion the public convenience will be promoted thereby. Whenever a grade be established or altered, a record and diagram thereof shall be made in the book of street records in the office of the department of engineering and building.

Special assessment prohibited for expenses incurred in changing street grade.

261. Section 5. Whenever any street, alley or sidewalk shall have been graded or pavement shall have been constructed in conformity to grades established by authority of the city, and the expense thereof shall have been assessed upon lots or lands bounded by or abutting upon such street, alley or sidewalk, the owner or owners of such lots or lands shall not be subject to any special assessment occasioned by any subsequent change of grade in such pavement, alley or sidewalk, unless such change be asked for by a majority of the owners of such lots or lands; but the expense of all improvements occasioned by such change of grade shall be chargeable and paid by the city.

262. Section 6. Whenever the grade of any street or sidewalk shall have been heretofore, or shall hereafter be established and improvements shall thereafter be made by the owner or occupant of the adjacent property in conformity to such grade, such grade shall not be changed without compensation to the owner for all damages to such property resulting therefrom to be ascertained in the manner in this charter provided for the condemnation of private property for public use.

Sidewalks.

263. Section 7. Sidewalks, except crosswalks, shall be built, rebuilt, maintained and repaired by the owners of lands within the city in the manner and within the time prescribed by ordinance; provided that, in case of the failure of any such owner to comply with the provisions of such ordinance, the city may build or cause to be built, such sidewalk and assess against such owner the cost thereof, together with an additional ten (10) per centum of such cost as a penalty for the violation of such ordinance.

264. Section 8. The council is authorized to enact all such ordinances and by-laws as it may deem proper relative to the building, rebuilding, maintaining and repairing of partition fences by the owners and occupants of adjoining lots, enclosures and parcels of land in said city; and relative to the assigning to the owners or occupants of such adjoining pieces of land the portion of such partition fences to be maintained by them respectively; and may provide for the recording of such assignments and divisions when made, and may provide for the recovery of damages from any owner or occupant who shall fail to comply with the provisions and requirements of any ordinance relative to such partition fences. And the council may appoint fence viewers, and prescribe their duties and mode of proceeding in all cases relative to partition fences in said city.