Township of Franklin, NJ Chapter 162 Brush, Grass and Weeds

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Franklin 12-18-1967 as Ch. 11 of the 1967 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Property maintenance — See Ch. 295.

§ 162-1 Cutting required; height specified.

All owners or tenants of lands shall keep all brush, hedges and other plant life growing within 10 feet of any roadway and within 25 feet of the intersecting sidelines of any two roadways cut to a height of not more than 2 1/2 feet where it shall be necessary and expedient for the preservation of the public safety.

§ 162-2 Powers of township committees; notices.

The Road or Highway Committee of the Township Committee shall, after investigation and inquiry, report to the Township Committee all places and lands where, in its opinion, brush, hedges and other plant life, growing within 10 feet of any roadway and within 25 feet of the intersecting sidelines of any two roadways, should be cut to a height of 2 1/2 feet for the preservation of the public safety. The Township Committee may thereafter, by motion or resolution duly adopted, order the owner or tenant, or both, to cut the said brush, hedges or other plant life being within the aforesaid distances from any roadway, to a height of not more than 2 1/2 feet within 10 days after the receipt of written notice with regards to the same from the Township Clerk. Written notice of the action and order of the Township Committee shall be served on the owner and tenant, if any, personally, or by certified mail.

§ 162-3 Provision for cutting; charge against lands.

Should the owner or tenant not cut the said brush, hedges or other plant life to a height of not more than 2 1/2 feet within 10 days after receiving of such notice, the Chairman of the Roads and Highways Committee shall order the Road Supervisor to cut the same as aforesaid. The Road Supervisor shall keep an accurate account of the cost of cutting the same and shall certify the cost thereof to the Township Committee at its next regular meeting. The Township Committee shall examine the certificate and if found correct shall cause the cost as shown to be charged against said lands, or in the event such cost is excessive, to cause the reasonable cost thereof to be charged against said land. The amount so charged shall be certified to the Tax Collector, 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 other taxes, and shall be collected and enforced by the same officers and in the same manner as taxes.

§ 162-4 Provision for hearing.

Should any owner or tenant be aggrieved by the order of the Township Committee to cut said brush, hedges and other plant life as aforesaid, he shall apply to the Township Clerk for a hearing with regard to the same before the Township Committee within 10 days after receiving notice of said order. The Township Committee shall, within 30 days after such request, hold a hearing for the owner or tenant, or both, with regard to the same. After the said hearing, the Township Committee may affirm, revoke or modify the said order as in its discretion may seem proper.

§ 162-5 Violations and penalties.

Any person who shall violate the provisions of this chapter, or who shall interfere with, obstruct, hinder or delay any officer of the Township of Franklin with regards to the enforcement of any of the provisions hereof, shall be subject to a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $200, and not more than 30 days' imprisonment, or both, upon conviction thereof before a court of competent jurisdiction.