City of Greensburg, PA General Provisions

Be it enacted and ordained by the City Council of the City of Greensburg, county of Westmoreland, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and it is enacted and ordained as follows:

§ 1-1 Approval, adoption and enactment of Code.

Pursuant to Article V of the City of Greensburg Home Rule Charter, the codification of a complete body of legislation for the City of Greensburg, County of Westmoreland, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as revised, codified and consolidated into titles, chapters and sections by General Code Publishers Corp., and consisting of Chapters 1 through 236, together with an Appendix, are hereby approved, adopted, ordained and enacted as a single ordinance of the City of Greensburg, which shall be known and is hereby designated as the "Code of the City of Greensburg," hereinafter referred to as the "Code." In accordance with Section 502 (published as § C-25) of the City of Greensburg Home Rule Charter, "codification" shall be deemed to be one (1) subject.

§ 1-2 Effect of Code on previous provisions.

The provisions of this Code, insofar as they are substantively the same as those of ordinances and resolutions in force immediately prior to the enactment of this ordinance, are intended as a continuation of such ordinances and resolutions and not as new enactments, and the effectiveness of such provisions shall date from the date of adoption of the prior ordinance or resolution. All such provisions are hereby continued in full force and effect and are hereby reaffirmed as to their adoption by the City Council of the City of Greensburg, and it is the intention of said City Council that each such provision contained within the Code is hereby reenacted and reaffirmed as it appears in said Code. Only such provisions of former ordinances as are omitted from this Code shall be deemed repealed or abrogated by the provisions of § 1-3 below, and only new or changed provisions, as described in § 1-6 below, shall be deemed to be enacted from the effective date of this Code, as provided in § 1-15 below.

§ 1-3 Repeal of legislation not contained in Code.

All ordinances or parts of ordinances of a general and permanent nature adopted by the City of Greensburg and in force on the date of the adoption of this Code and not contained in the Code are hereby repealed as of the effective date given in § 1-15 below, except as hereinafter provided.

§ 1-4 Legislation saved from repeal; matters not affected by repeal.

The adoption of this Code and the repeal of ordinances provided for in § 1-3 of this ordinance shall not affect the following ordinances, rights and obligations, which are hereby expressly saved from repeal; provided, however, that the repeal of ordinances pursuant to § 1-3 or the saving from repeal of ordinances pursuant to this section shall not be construed so as to revive any ordinance previously repealed, superseded or no longer of any effect:

Any ordinance adopted subsequent to August 1, 1994.

Any right or liability established, accrued or incurred under any legislative provision of the city prior to the effective date of this ordinance or any action or proceeding brought for the enforcement of such right or liability or any cause of action acquired or existing.

Any offense or act committed or done before the effective date of this ordinance in violation of any legislative provision of the city or any penalty, punishment or forfeiture which may result therefrom.

Any prosecution, indictment, action, suit or other proceeding pending or any judgment rendered prior to the effective date of this ordinance, brought pursuant to any legislative provision of the city.

Any franchise, license, right, easement or privilege heretofore granted or conferred by the city or any lawful contract, obligation or agreement.

Any ordinance appropriating money or transferring funds, promising or guaranteeing the payment of money or authorizing the issuance and delivery of any bond of the city or other instruments or evidence of the city's indebtedness.

Any ordinance adopting an annual budget or establishing an annual tax rate.

Any ordinance providing for the levy, imposition or collection of special taxes, assessments or charges.

Any ordinance authorizing the purchase, sale, lease or transfer of property or acquiring property by acceptance of deed, condemnation or exercise of eminent domain.

Any ordinance annexing land to the city.

Any ordinance providing for requiring the construction or reconstruction or opening of sidewalks, curbs and gutters.

Any ordinance or part of an ordinance providing for laying out, opening, altering, widening, relocating, straightening, establishing grade, changing name, improvement, acceptance or vacation of any right-of-way, easement, street, road, highway, sidewalk, park or other public place or property or designating various streets as public highways.

Any ordinance establishing water, sewer or other special purpose districts and designating the boundaries thereof; providing for a system of sewers or water supply lines; or providing for the construction, extension, dedication, acceptance or abandonment of any part of a system of sewers or water supply lines.

Any ordinance providing for the making of public improvements.

Any ordinance providing for the salaries and compensation of officers and employees of the city or setting the bond of any officer or employee.

Any ordinance concerning changes and amendments to the Zoning Map.

The Local Government Investment Trust Ordinance, Ord. No. 1161, adopted 3-8-1982.

The Workers Compensation Trust Ordinance, Ord. No. 1568, adopted 1-11-1993.

Any legislation establishing fees.

§ 1-5 Inclusion of new legislation prior to adoption of Code.

All ordinances and resolutions of a general and permanent nature adopted subsequent to the date given in § 1-4A and/or prior to the date of adoption of this ordinance are hereby deemed to be a part of the Code and shall, upon being printed, be included therein. Attested copies of all such ordinances and resolutions shall be temporarily placed in the Code until printed supplements are included.

§ 1-6 Changes and revisions in previously adopted legislation; new provisions.

Nonsubstantive grammatical changes. In compiling and preparing the ordinances and resolutions of the city for adoption and revision as part of the Code, certain nonsubstantive grammatical and style changes were made in one (1) or more of said ordinances and resolutions. It is the intention of the City Council that all such changes be adopted as part of the Code as if the ordinances and resolutions so changed had been previously formally amended to read as such.

Substantive changes and revisions. In addition to the changes and revisions described above, the following changes and revisions of a substantive nature are hereby made to various ordinances and resolutions included in the Code. These changes are made to bring provisions into conformity with the desired policies of the City Council, and it is the intent of the City Council that all such changes be adopted as part of the Code as if the legislation so changed had been previously formally amended to read as such. All such changes and revisions shall be deemed to be in effect as of the effective date of the Code specified in § 1-15.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Pursuant to § 1-6B, the following chapters, Articles and sections were added amended or adopted: §§ 5-5, 5-6, 5-8C, 5-9, 5-16, 5-20, 5-21B, 14-1, 50-1, 60-2A and B, 60-3A, 74-13, 86-2, 86-5, 89-6A, 92-3C, 92-6A, 92-11A, 96-2, 96-3, 96-7, 96-8, 99-3, 99-4, 99-8, 99-9, 99-13, 103-10, 103-14, 107-1, 107-3, 114-3, 114-6, 114-7F(1), 119-5, 122-6, 127-4, 127-5, 127-6, 130-1, 132-9, 140-3, 140-4, 147-2, 147-3, 147-4, 147-5, 151-1, 154-2, 157-1, 157-3, 157-6A(19), 160-25, 160-27, 160-30, 175-1, 175-2, 179-3A(3)(a) and (4)(a), 182-3, 190-2B, 190-5, 190-9, 193-9, 197-2 197-3A, 197-4, 197-5A, 197-9, 197-10, 200-3, 205-3A(2)(a), 211-5, 211-6, 215-3, 219-2, 219-3, 219-8A, 219-11, 227-2, 227-6A, 227-9G, 227-12, and 227-27; Ch. 232, Art. I; §§ 232-23, 232-28, 232-29, 232-35, 232-36, 232-61, 235-3B, D and E, 235-4, 235-10D(1), 235-12, 235-18A and J, 235-19, 235-20, 240-10, 240-11, 240-20D, 240-21A, 240-22, 240-28, 240-31, 240-32 and 240-39A; Ch. 240, Art. VII; §§ 246-1, 246-3, 246-4, 253-3, 265-7, 265-8, 265-12G(3), 265-74A and C, 265-87, 265-98A and C, 265-114A, 265-117, 265-128E(1), 265-132L, 265-140F and G, 265-141, 265-143, 265-146D, 265-148, 265-177A(1), 265-178B(4)(a) and (b), (5) and (6)(c), (d) and (f) and 265-179A.

Throughout this Code, all references to "Code Enforcement Department" were changed to "Building and Fire Code Enforcement Department," and references to "Justice of the peace," "alderman" or "magistrate" were changed to "District Justice." In Ch. 57, Art. II, the references to "City Physician" were changed to "a licensed physician selected by the City Administrator." In Ch. 103, Art. I, references to the "Code Enforcement Office" were changed to "Building and Fire Code Enforcement Department." In Ch. 119 references to "Borough Engineer" were changed to "City Engineer" and references to "Secretary of Council" were deleted. In Ch. 157, Art. II, all references to "Fire Official" or "Fire Marshal" were changed to refer to "Building and Fire Code Enforcement Department," and all references to the "City Electrician" were changed to refer to the "City Electric and Maintenance Supervisor." In Ch. 160, Part 1, references to "City, Borough, Twp." were changed to "city." In Ch. 190, "City Clerk" was changed to "Planning and Zoning Department." In Ch. 193, "City Clerk" was changed to "Building and Fire Code Enforcement Department." In Ch. 215, "City Clerk" was changed to "City Treasurer." In Ch. 219, Art. III, references to the construction of the sewage system were changed to the past tense. In Ch. 235, references to "City Engineering Department" were changed to "City Engineer." In Ch. 240, Art. I, references to "Income Tax Administrator" were changed to "Treasurer." In Ch. 240, Art. II, references to "1966" were deleted, references to "City Clerk" were changed to refer to "City Treasurer," and references to the "Director of Accounts and Finance" were changed to "Director of Accounts and Finances." In Ch. 265, references to Act 247 were footnoted to refer to the appropriate sections in Purdon's Statutes, references to the "Office of Building and Fire" and "Bureau of Building and Fire" were changed to refer to the "Building and Fire Code Enforcement Department," and references to the "administrator" and "Zoning Officer" were changed to refer to the "Director of Planning and Zoning."

The following original provisions or parts of provisions were deleted: Section 1812 of Ord. No. 908, Section 235 of Ord. No. 562, Section 10 of Ord. No. 884, Section 6 of Ord. No. 753, Sections 5, 6 and 10 of Ord. No. 912, Section 7 of Ord. No. 1157, Sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24 and 25 of Ord. No. 273, Sections 102, 103, 104, 106, 107 and 401-7d of Ord. No. 428.

§ 1-7 Nonsubstantive changes.

In compiling and preparing the ordinances and resolutions of the city for adoption and revision as part of the Code, certain nonsubstantive grammatical and style changes were made in one (1) or more of said ordinances and resolutions. It is the intention of the City Council that all such changes be adopted as part of the Code as if the ordinances and resolutions so changed had been previously formally amended to read as such.

§ 1-8 Interpretation of provisions.

In interpreting and applying the provisions of the Code, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare. Where the provisions of the Code impose greater restrictions or requirements than those of any statute, other ordinance, resolution or regulation, the provisions of the Code shall control. Where the provisions of any statute, other ordinance, resolution or regulation impose greater restrictions or requirements, the provisions of such statute, other ordinance, resolution or regulation shall control.

§ 1-9 Titles and headings; editor's notes.

Chapter and Article titles, headings and titles of sections and other divisions in the Code or in supplements made to the Code are inserted in the Code and may be inserted in supplements to the Code for the convenience of persons using the Code and are not part of the legislation.

Editor's notes indicating sources of sections, giving other information or referring to the statutes or to other parts of the Code are inserted in the Code and may be inserted in supplements to the Code for the convenience of persons using the Code and are not part of the legislation.

§ 1-10 Filing of copies of Code.

[Amended 9-14-2015 by Ord. No. 2057]

Three (3) copies of the Code in a post-bound volume shall be filed with the Ordinance Book in the office of the City Administrator and shall remain there for use and examination by the public. Upon adoption, such copies shall be certified to by the City Administrator, as provided by law, and such certified copies shall remain on file in the office of the City Administrator, available to persons desiring to examine the same during all times while said Code is in effect.

§ 1-11 Amendments to Code.

Any and all additions, deletions, amendments or supplements to the Code, when passed and adopted in such form as to indicate the intention of the City Council to be a part thereof, shall be deemed to be incorporated into such Code so that reference to the Code shall be understood and intended to include such changes. Whenever such additions, deletions, amendments or supplements to the Code shall be adopted, they shall thereafter be printed and, as provided hereunder, inserted in the post-bound book containing said Code as amendments and supplements thereto.

§ 1-12 Code books to be kept up-to-date.

[Amended 9-14-2015 by Ord. No. 2057]

It shall be the duty of the City Administrator or someone authorized and directed by him or her to keep up-to-date the certified copies of the book containing the Code required to be filed in the office of the City Administrator for the use of the public. All changes in said Code and all legislation adopted by the City Council subsequent to the effective date of this codification which the City Council shall adopt specifically as part of the Code shall, when finally adopted, be included therein by reference until such changes or new legislation are printed as supplements to said Code books, at which time such supplements shall be inserted therein.

§ 1-13 Publication of notices.

[Amended 9-14-2015 by Ord. No. 2057]

The City Administrator, pursuant to law, shall cause to be published in the manner required a notice of the introduction and of the adoption of the Code in a newspaper of general circulation in the city. The enactment and application of this ordinance, coupled with the publication of the notices of introduction and adoption, as required by law, and the availability of copies of the Code for inspection by the public, shall be deemed, held and considered to be due and legal publication of all provisions of the Code for all purposes.

§ 1-14 Altering or tampering with Code; penalties for violation.

It shall be unlawful for anyone to improperly change or amend, by additions or deletions, or to alter or tamper with the Code or any part or portion thereof, in any manner whatsoever, which will cause the law of the city to be misrepresented thereby. Anyone violating this section of this ordinance shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding six hundred dollars ($600.), plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment thereof, by imprisonment for a term not exceeding ninety (90) days.

§ 1-15 Severability.

The provisions of this ordinance and of the Code adopted hereby are severable, and if any clause, sentence, subsection, section, Article, chapter or part thereof shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid or unconstitutional, such judgment or decision shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof but shall be confined in its operation and application to the clause, sentence, subsection, section, Article, chapter or part thereof rendered. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the City Council that this ordinance and the Code would have been adopted if such illegal, invalid or unconstitutional clause, sentence, subsection, section, Article, chapter or part thereof had not been included therein.

§ 1-16 Effective date.

All provisions of this ordinance and of the Code shall be in force and effect on and after January 1, 1995.

Article II Legislation Adopted During Codification

[During the process of codification, certain complete new ordinances were approved by the City Council for inclusion in the Code of the City of Greensburg. Such new ordinances are noted in the histories of individual chapters as "Adopted ... during codification; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II." During the course of normal supplementation, specific dates of enactment will be inserted where pertinent in the histories of the individual chapters.

The enumeration below lists each chapter affected by any such legislation adopted during codification. The complete text of the new enactments is on file in the City offices where it may be inspected during regular office hours.]

Chapter	Adoption Date	Legislation
Ch. 249, Vehicles and Traffic	12-21-1994	Ord. No. 1647