[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Oxford as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Streets, sidewalks and trees — See Ch. 294.
[Adopted 12-16-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-06]
Where it shall be necessary and expedient for the preservation
of the public safety, as determined by the Township Committee or other
officer of the Township designated by the Township Committee, any
owner or tenant of lands lying within the Township shall be required
to cut all brush, hedges or other plant life to a height of not more
than 2 1/2 feet where such brush, hedges or other plant life
is located within 10 feet of any roadway or within 25 feet of the
intersection of two roadways, within 10 days after notice to cut the
same. The term "roadway," as used herein, refers to right-of-way width.
Where it shall be necessary and expedient for the public health,
safety, and general welfare or to eliminate a fire hazard, as determined
by the Township Committee or other officer of the Township designated
by the Township Committee, any owner or tenant of lands lying within
the Township shall remove from such lands or destroy brush, weeds,
including ragweed, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious
growths, filth, garbage, trash and debris within 10 days after notice
to remove or destroy the same.
In the event that the owner or tenant shall refuse or neglect to cut the brush, hedges or plant life under § 248-2 within 10 days after notice, the Township may do the work or cause the work to be done under the direction of the Township Committee or other officer of the Township designated by the Township Committee.
The supervising Committee member or Township officer shall certify to the Township Committee the cost of the work which has been performed under § 248-3 herein; and the Township Committee shall examine the certificate; and, if it finds the amount to be correct, the Committee shall cause the costs as shown thereon to be charged against said lands. The amount so charged shall forthwith become a lien upon the lands and shall be added to and become and form part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon the lands, and the same shall bear interest at the same rate as taxes and shall be collected and enforced by the same officer and in the same manner as taxes. Costs may include payments made to contractors hired by the Township to perform the work, costs for work or supervision performed by Township employees, and an administrative fee of $25 for the processing and mailing of notices.
A.
Any person who violates any provision of this article and who fails to abate any nuisance defined in § 248-1 after receiving notice thereof, within the time specified in said notice, or who violates any other section of this article shall, for each and every violation or offense, be subject to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both, in the discretion of the Judge.
B.
Each and every day such violation or offense continues shall be deemed
and constitute a separate and distinct violation of this article and
not a continuing offense.
C.
Each and every person who actually violates this article and each
and every person who, after receiving notice thereof, fails to abate
the same as hereinbefore required shall each severally be liable for
such violation and to the penalty hereinabove set forth.