[Adopted 5-14-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-08]
The owner, occupant or tenant on any street in the Township
in which a sidewalk passes shall be responsible for the repair, maintenance
and replacement of the sidewalk on the property and shall keep same
free from snow, ice, grass, weeds, limbs and branches of trees or
shrubs, debris and other obstructions.
If the Township or its authorized agent determines that a sidewalk
is in such state of disrepair that it requires repair, maintenance,
and/or replacement and an owner or tenant occupant fails to take such
steps to repair, maintain and/or replace, the owner or tenant shall
be given 60 days from the date of written notice to make the necessary
repair, maintenance or repair. If owner or tenant occupant fails to
address the reason for the notice within 60 days, the Township may
take all necessary actions to issue a violation and/or to repair,
maintain or replace the sidewalk without further notice. Any owner,
tenant or occupant may within 15 days of receipt of notice from the
Township, make a written application for an extension of time to repair,
maintain or replace which may be granted for a good cause shown.
A.
All trees or shrubs planted on private property that stand along
public sidewalks and public streets, the branches of which extend
over any part of a public sidewalk or a public street, shall be trimmed
by the owner, occupant or tenant of the premises that directly front
upon that part of the sidewalk or street along which the trees or
shrubs stand. Such owner, occupant or tenant shall keep the branches
and limbs of such trees or shrubs trimmed and cut so that no limb
or branch shall overhang the public sidewalk or the public street
at a height of less than eight feet above ground level.
B.
If the Township or its authorized agent determines that the owner
or tenant occupant of a property has failed to trim his/her/its trees
or shrubs and are overhanging a public sidewalk or the public street,
the owner or tenant shall be given 60 days from the date of the notice
to trim the overhanging trees or shrubs. If owner or tenant occupant
fails to address the reason for the notice within 60 days, the Township
may take all necessary actions to issue a violation and/or to trim
the overhanging trees or shrubs without further notice. Any owner,
tenant or occupant may within 15 days of receipt of notice from the
Township, make a written application for an extension of time to repair,
maintain or replace, which may be granted for a good cause shown.
C.
The owner or tenant occupant is responsible for any trees or shrubs
located on his/her/its property regardless of whether these trees
or shrubs are located within any municipal, county or state road right-of-way.
The costs and expenses incurred by the Township for the repair,
maintenance and/or replacement of the sidewalks or trimming of overhanging
trees shall be ascertained by the Committee and certified to be assessed
by the Township, and such expense shall be added to and form a part
of the Township's taxes next to be levied and assessed on the lot
or lots and land in front of which the sidewalk passes. The costs
and expenses levied by the Township may include all costs related
to postage, publication or legal fees incurred by the Township to
notify owner or tenant occupant.
Any owner or tenant occupant who violates the above sections
of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine
not exceeding $250 together with the cost of prosecution incurred
by the Township of Mansfield.
