[HISTORY: Derived from the 1969 Revised General Ordinances
of the Borough of Spotswood (adopted by the Borough Council 5-11-1970 by Ord. No.
278, as amended through 9/94) as indicated in article
histories. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
[Derived from Sec. 6-3 of the 1969 Revised General Ordinances]
It shall be the duty of the owner, tenant or person in possession
of any land in the Borough:
A.Â
To keep such land free of brush, weeds, dead and dying trees, stumps,
roots, obnoxious growths, filth, garbage, trash and debris, where
they are inimical to the preservation of the public health, safety
or general welfare of the Borough, or which may constitute a fire
hazard.
B.Â
To remove all grass, weeds, brush and other debris from that part
of a street bordering on their land, where the land abuts or borders
on any public street in the Borough.
C.Â
To control the growth of bamboo, which is considered an invasive
plant series and can cause nuisance as well as damage to neighboring
properties. The growth must be controlled by the property owner. The
failure to control the spread of such vegetation beyond the boundaries
of a resident's property is a violation of this chapter.
[Added 10-6-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-10]
(1)Â
All native and nonnative vines and vegetation that grow out of place
and are competitive, persistent, and pernicious. These plants may
damage trees, vegetation or structures. Examples include but are not
limited to bamboo (spreading or running type), ragweed, multiflora
rose and kudzu vine.
Whenever the Commissioners deem it necessary for the preservation
of the public health, safety, general welfare or the elimination of
a fire hazard, or upon investigation of a complaint of any resident,
officer or employee of the Borough, they may order the owner, tenant
or person in possession of land on which grass, weeds, trash or other
debris are found, to remove them within 10 days, or to cause their
removal if the order is not complied with.
After an investigation of a complaint of a resident, officer
or employee of the Borough, or on his own motion, the Building Inspector
shall make a written report of the conditions complained of to the
Commissioners at their next regular meeting. If the reported conditions
are found to exist, the Commissioners shall direct the Clerk to notify
the owner, tenant or person in possession of the land complained of,
in writing, either personally or by registered mail, to remove such
brush, weeds, dead or dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growth,
filth, garbage, trash, or other debris, within 10 days after receipt
of the notice. The Building Inspector shall reinspect the land in
question after the ten-day period expires and shall present a written
report to the Commissioners at their next regular meeting on whether
the condition complained of has been abated or remedied.
If the owner, tenant or person in possession of the land in
question refuses or neglects to abate or remedy the condition complained
of within 10 days after receipt of notice, the Building Inspector
shall cause the condition complained of to be abated and remedied
and shall certify the cost to the Commissioners, who shall examine
the certificate and, if they find it correct, shall cause the cost
to be charged against the land. The amount so charged shall become
a lien on the land, shall be added to and become a part of the taxes
next to be assessed and levied on the land, shall bear interest at
the same rate as taxes, and shall be collected in the same manner
as taxes. Costs shall be in addition to penalties imposed for violations
of this article.
[Derived from Ch. XXV of the 1969 Revised General Ordinances]
A code declaring ragweed and poison ivy to be a nuisance, providing
for their removal or abatement and for recovery of expenses incurred
by the Division of Health in their removal or abatement and prescribing
penalties for violations is hereby established pursuant to N.J.S.A.
26:3-69.1 to 26:3-69.6. A copy of the code is annexed to and made
a part of this article without the inclusion of the text.
The code established and adopted by this article is known as
the "Weed Control Code of New Jersey (1953)."
Three copies of the Weed Control Code of New Jersey (1953) shall
be placed on file in the office of the Clerk and shall remain on file
in that office for the use and examination of the public.
The code is amended in Section 4.1 to read as follows: "4.1.
The provisions of this code shall be enforced by members of the Police
Department of the Borough, the Building Inspector or Official of the
Borough, the Plumbing Inspector of the Borough, the Health Officer,
and any other official authorized by the Commissioners to enforce
this code and article."
