Detailing with the town

[Selina Rifkin]

In November 2017 we purchased a 1910 duplex in Norwich CT. It was last renovated in the 70s (at least if the laminated cabinets are any indication). We are close to being able to rent out the top floor (disabled step daughter had the bottom floor). What we have been finding since we purchased it, it that there is an unpleasant drainage problem by the front stairs. Water runs down the street, and enters a thoroughly inadequate drain - it is both small and horizontal so it clogs easily - and then over flows, running down the stairs to the lower patio. It is also overflowing to my neighbor's property where it goes behind a small stone retaining wall and then dumps out back onto our property. From that area, it goes to another very inadequate pipe and flows down to our other neighbors' property. My friend who is an engineer thinks that the town should be dealing with the initial problem of the drain. I'm not sure how to approach this. The flow is messy, making a large puddle right at the bottom of the stairs which are about 10 feet from the front door. The concrete doe slope away from the house fortunately. I've taken pics when the flow is active.