[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Medford 4-28-1971 by Ord. No. 1971-7. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Amended 12-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-25]
It shall be unlawful for any owner or owners,
occupant or occupants, tenant or tenants of any lot or tract of land
situate within the limits of the Township of Medford to permit or
maintain on any such lot or tract of land any brush, weeds, including
ragweed, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, including
bamboo and other nonnative invasive species, filth, garbage, trash
and debris injurious to the public health, safety and general welfare
or where the same shall tend to create a fire hazard or where the
same may tend to interfere with the orderly flow of surface waters
across said lands.
[Amended 8-2-1983 by Ord. No. 1983-16]
Upon the failure of any owner, owners, occupant,
occupants, tenant or tenants to remove or otherwise destroy such brush,
weeds, including ragweed, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious
growths, filth, garbage, trash and debris within 10 days after notice
to remove the same has been received from the said Township of Medford,
which notice may be effected by personal service or by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested, the Township of Medford
shall cause the same to be removed under the direction of the Manager
of said Township, and such officer shall certify the cost thereof
to the governing body, which shall examine the certification and,
if found correct, shall cause the cost as shown thereon to be charged
against said lands; the amount so charged shall forthwith become a
lien upon such lands and shall be added to and become and form part
of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon such lands, the same
to bear interest at the same rate as taxes, and shall be collected
and enforced in the same manner as taxes and by the same officer as
provided in N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.14, as amended.
[Amended 8-2-1983 by Ord. No. 1983-16]
In the event of an extreme emergency, as so
declared by an official proclamation by the Mayor of the Township
of Medford, it shall be lawful for the Manager or his lawfully designated
substitute to enter upon the private lands in the Township in order
to clear ditches and swales of brush, weeds, including ragweed, dead
and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, filth, garbage,
trash and debris in order to facilitate and expedite the running off
of surface waters where the owner or owners, occupant or occupants,
tenant or tenants have allowed or permitted said ditches or swales
to be maintained in such a manner as to back up or block the passage
of water in such a manner as to be deleterious to the public health,
safety and general welfare.
[Amended 8-2-1983 by Ord. No. 1983-16; 12-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-25]
Any owner or owners, occupant or occupants,
tenant or tenants who shall neglect to cut or remove or otherwise
destroy such brush, weeds, including ragweed, dead and dying trees,
stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, including bamboo and other nonnative
invasive species, filth, garbage, trash and debris as directed by
this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine
of not more than $500 or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days,
or both.
The collection of the fine or service of the
sentence imposed by this chapter shall not be construed to bar any
lien of the Township of Medford to collect the cost as certified for
the removal of such items as set forth herein in the manner herein
authorized.
