[Adopted 11-5-1979 as §§ 25-1
and 25-2 to 25-5 of the 1979 Revised General Ordinances]
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Includes any brush, hedges and other plant life, except trees,
on lands within the Township.
The Township hereby finds and declares that
the existence of plant life growing within 10 feet of any roadway
and within 25 feet of the intersection of two roadways to a height
in excess of 2 1/2 feet is inimical to the preservation of public
safety and general welfare and is likely to constitute a traffic hazard.
Whenever it shall appear to the Township that
the existence upon any land within the Township of plant life growing
within 10 feet of any roadway and within 25 feet of the intersection
of two roadways and exceeding 2 1/2 feet in height is hazardous
to the public safety or general welfare of the residents of the Township
or those using its highways or constitutes a safety hazard, the owner
or tenant of any such lands shall be required to cut such plant life
to a height of not more than 2 1/2 feet within 10 days after
service of written notice from the Police Department requiring such
trimming or cutting.
A.
If the owner or tenant of any such lands shall refuse
or neglect to cut such brush, hedges or other plant life, except trees,
in the manner and within the time specified in such notice, it shall
be the duty of the Chief of Police, acting by any member of the Police
Department designated by him, with the assistance of the Manager,
to provide for the cutting of the same to a height of not more than
2 1/2 feet.
B.
The Chief of Police shall thereupon certify the cost
of such removal to the Council.
C.
The Council shall examine the certificate and, if
found correct, shall cause the cost as shown thereon to be charged
against said lands, or in the event that such cost is excessive, to
cause the reasonable cost thereof to be charged against said lands.
The amount so charged shall thereupon 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, and shall be collected and enforced in the same
manner, as other taxes within the Township.
Unless another penalty is expressly provided
herein, any person who violates any provision of this article shall,
upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $500
or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both. A separate
offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a
violation occurs or continues.
