[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Riverton 11-14-1974 by Ord.
No. 312. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The first members of the Board shall be appointed within 90 days
after the effective date of this chapter, and their terms of office
shall commence on January 1 next succeeding such appointment.
B.
The term of each appointee shall be designated in his appointment.
All subsequent appointments, except to fill vacancies, shall be for
the full term of three years, to take effect on January 1 next succeeding
such appointment. In the event that the membership of any Board is
increased, the new members shall be appointed in such manner that
the terms shall expire in accordance with the foregoing.
The Shade Tree Board shall organize within 60 days after the
appointment of its total membership for the remainder of the then
calendar year, and thereafter annually by the election of one of its
members as Chairman and the appointment of a Secretary, who need not
be a member. The members of the Board and the Secretary shall serve
without compensation.
Any vacancy occurring by reason of death, resignation or removal
of any member of the Board shall be filled for the unexpired term
by the Mayor of the Borough of Riverton.
The scope and responsibilities of the Shade Tree Board shall
be as follows:
A.
To prepare programs and plans for consideration by the governing
body with respect to the purchase, planting, care, rearing, trimming,
preserving and control of the shade and ornamental trees of the Borough.
B.
To meet with the governing body upon its request for discussion of
programs and recommendations.
C.
To consult regularly with the governing body concerning the shade
tree program of the Borough.
D.
Encourage arboriculture.
A.
When application for a subdivision of land is first submitted to
the Planning Board, the Planning Board will, within one week, advise
the Shade Tree Board, of the desired subdivision, whereupon the Board
shall inspect the property involved, noting the number, type and location
of the various trees situate on the land proposed to be subdivided,
their approximate age and density of growth, together with the topography,
and taking into account the necessity for cutting or filling the land
to meet subdivision requirements.
B.
Within 10 days after receipt of such information, the Shade Tree
Board shall make a written report of its findings to the Planning
Board, together with any recommendation it might desire to make regarding
the safeguarding of desirable trees during the course of the subdivision
and the erection of buildings in such development.
[Amended 4-12-2017 by Ord. No. O-2017-03]
The Borough Council shall have the sole power and authority to enter into contracts and incur debts for the purpose of carrying out the objectives of this Chapter 35.
The Borough Council shall have the power to:
A.
Regulate and control the use of the grounds surrounding the shade
and ornamental trees and shrubbery on public land, so far as may be
necessary for their proper growth, care and protection.
B.
Move or require the removal of any tree or part thereof dangerous
to public safety.
C.
Administer treatment to or remove any tree situate upon private property
which is believed to harbor a disease or insects readily communicable
to neighboring healthy trees in the care of the municipality, and
enter upon private property for that purpose, with the consent of
the owner thereof, provided the suspected condition is first confirmed
by a certificate of the Department of Agriculture.
A.
The initial costs of all trees planted by the Borough, the cost of
planting the same, the cost of the post and boxes or guards used for
the protection of the trees and the cost of the removal of any tree
or part thereof dangerous to public safety shall, if so determined
by the Borough governing body, be a charge upon the real estate in
front of which such tree or trees shall be planted or removed as an
improvement thereof. No charge shall be made against the property
or the owner thereof where a planting to replace a tree or trees previously
planted by the Borough is done, or where a planting is made in connection
with a commemorative ceremony instigated by the Borough, or where
a planting is made in connection with any educational demonstration.
B.
Any cost assessed as provided in this section shall be paid by the
owner to the Borough Clerk. Upon failure of the owner to make payment
to the Borough Clerk, said Borough Clerk shall certify the cost to
the Tax Collector, and the cost assessed shall thereupon become a
lien upon said real estate and shall be included in the next tax bill
rendered to the owner or owners thereof and be collected in the same
manner as other taxes against that property.
The Borough Council shall annually appropriate such sum as it
may deem necessary for the purchase of trees and shrubbery, the purchase
of necessary equipment and materials and for the cost of services
of the promotion of the work of the Shade Tree Board.
A member of the Borough Council shall be charged with the duty
of overseeing the program of work undertaken by the Borough Council
pursuant to this chapter. Said member shall make monthly reports to
the Borough governing body on the work undertaken pursuant to the
program provided for herein.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be held to take away
or diminish any of the powers or authority of the Mayor and Council
over the trees or shrubbery in the Borough of Riverton within its
jurisdiction, or to give any other commission or board any power or
authority with respect to such trees or shrubbery.
[Added 12-12-2012 by Ord.
No. 5-2012]
A.
Definitions.
(1)
BOARD
PERMITS
PERSON
STREET
TREE
PLANTING EASEMENT
As used in this chapter, the terms hereinafter set forth shall be
defined and deemed to have the following meanings:
The Shade Tree Board of the Borough of Riverton, including
any of its duly appointed members and any of its duly authorized agents
or employees.
Written permission of the Board pursuant to any provision
of this section, the Board shall have occasion to pass upon an application
for a permit. It shall, in determining whether or not to issue such
permit, take into consideration the nature, species, size, age, and
condition of any tree involved; the location thereof in the street
or park; the planting, care, protection, maintenance, or removal procedures
involved; the public safety and welfare; and the improvement and advancement
of the shade tree plan or program of the Commission Board.
Any individual, firm, partnership or corporation, or any
combination thereof. Where, in the proper context, it is so required,
this term may be construed to designate the plural as well as the
singular.
Any road, avenue, street, or highway dedicated to the public
use for street purposes, regardless of whether or not it has been
formally accepted by the Borough of Riverton. A street shall be deemed
to include all portions lying between the dedicated or established
right-of-way lines and/or planting easement thereof, said lines being
identical with the front property lines of lands abutting the street.
Any tree, shrub or plant, or any root, branch, flower or
other part thereof, that is located in or upon any Borough of Riverton
property.
The area of private property for Borough planting of trees
and shrubs within the Borough right-of-way as delineated on the Riverton
Borough Tax Maps.
(2)
Any term or provision of this section that contemplates, directs,
regulates or prohibits the doing of any act may, in applicable cases
and where the context so requires, be construed to include the causing,
allowing, permitting or suffering of such act to be done by others
under the direction, control or supervision of the person charged
therewith. Every such act shall be deemed to be within the scope of
this section, regardless of whether it is a deliberate, intentional
or purposeful act, or a careless, negligent or unintentional act.
B.
Permits. No person shall, without a permit, do any of the following
acts upon Borough of Riverton property:
(1)
Cut, prune, break, injure, remove, disturb, or interfere in any way
with any tree;
(2)
Spray with any chemical any tree or near a tree to cause injury or
death to said tree;
(3)
Fasten any rope, wire, sign or other device to a tree or to any guard about such tree except as provided in § 128-71;
(4)
Remove or injure any guard or device placed to protect any tree;
or
(5)
`Close or obstruct any open space provided about the base of a tree
to permit the access of air, water and fertilizer to the roots of
such tree.
C.
Planting. No person shall plant any tree or shrub in any park, street
or planting easement without a permit.
D.
Obstructions.
(1)
No person shall, without a permit, place or maintain in any street
or park, any stone, cement or other sidewalk, or any stone, cement,
mulch or other substance which shall impede the free access of air
and water to the roots of any tree.
(2)
No tree shall be surrounded by pavement of stone, cement, asphalt
or any other substance tending to impede the free access of air and
water to the roots of the tree as determined by the Shade Tree Board
or the certified tree expert retained by the Borough.
E.
Injury.
(1)
No person shall place salt, brine, oil or any other substance injurious
to plant growth in any street or park in such a manner as to injure
any tree.
(2)
No person shall build any fire or station any tar kettle, road roller,
fuel oil dispensing truck, or other engine in any street or any other
place in such a manner that the heat, vapors, fuel, or fumes therefrom
may injure any tree.
(3)
Every person, having or maintaining any underground utility lines,
shall do so in such a manner as will safeguard the trees against any
damage therefrom and shall make periodical adjustments whenever necessary
to prevent damage to trees.
F.
Protection.
(1)
In the erection, alteration, or repair of any structure or building,
the owner/contractor, or other person in charge thereof shall place
such guards around all nearby trees as will effectually prevent injury
to such trees.
(2)
No person shall do any excavating within four feet of any tree without
a permit.
(3)
No person shall use or operate any power shovel, bulldozer or any
other implement or tool in such a manner as to damage or destroy any
tree.
G.
Wires and utility trimming.
(1)
No person shall string any wires in or through a public park or Borough
trees without a permit.
(2)
Every person having or maintaining any electric, telephone, telegraph,
cable TV, or other wires running in or through a street or park shall
securely fasten and maintain such wires in such a manner as will safeguard
all trees against any damage therefrom and shall make periodical adjustments
whenever necessary to prevent damage to all trees.
(3)
Any public utility or its agents may upon receiving (written) permission
from the Board at least 72 hours prior to the start of the work, prune
or remove trees for line clearance of utility wires in nonemergency
situations pursuant to a line clearance program, service or spot work
to prevent interruption of electrical, telephone, telegraph, cable
TV, or other wire services. In such event, the utility will notify
the Board of said work within three business days prior to its beginning.
H.
Hindrance. No person shall prevent, delay or in any manner interfere
with the Board or its authorized agents in the performance of their
lawful duties.
I.
Penalties. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this
section or who fails to comply with the terms and provisions of any
permit issued pursuant hereto shall upon conviction in Municipal Court
therefor pay a fine of not less than $200 or not to exceed $1,500
at the discretion of the court. Each day that a violation shall continue,
it shall constitute a separate offense.
J.
Restitution. In addition to the penalties authorized by Subsection I of this chapter, the Borough Council may require a person who removes or otherwise destroys a tree in violation of a municipal ordinance to pay a replacement assessment to the municipality. The replacement assessment shall be the value of the tree as determined by the appraisal of a trained forester or certified tree expert retained by the Board for that purpose. These specifics will be based on the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers Guidebook.
