[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Madison 6-24-2002
by Ord. No. 17-2002. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
The taking of still or motion pictures, either on film, videotape,
digital or similar recording medium, for commercial or educational purposes
intended for viewing on video receivers, television, in theaters, the Internet
or for institutional use. Filming performed by one individual using a hand-held
camera without assistance from others shall be excluded from this chapter.
Any and every public street, highway, sidewalk, square, public right-of-way,
public park or playground, public building and property or other public place
within the Borough which is within the jurisdiction and control of the Borough
of Madison.
A.
No person, firm or corporation shall film or permit filming
within the Borough of Madison without first obtaining an application for permit
therefor, obtaining the required approvals, and filing the completed/approved
permit together with applicable permit fee with the Borough at least 10 calendar
days prior to the first date that filming is to take place.
B.
Madison Borough filming permit applications may be obtained
from the office of the Borough Clerk during normal business hours. Application
for such permits shall be in a form approved by the Borough Administrator
and shall be accompanied by a permit fee in the amount established by ordinance
of the Borough of Madison.
C.
The following information shall be included in the permit
application:
D.
One permit shall be required for each location.
E.
Duration of time authorized.
(1)
One permit shall be sufficient to authorize outdoor filming
on two calendar days and indoor filming on two calendar days within a period
of not more than five calendar days beginning on the date of issuance of the
permit, provided that each such date on which filming is to take place shall
be specified in the permit.
(2)
Permission for filming in excess of four days as described in § 98-2E(1) may be granted by the Borough Council upon filing of a request with the Borough Clerk seven calendar days in advance of the Borough Council meeting at which the matter is to be considered. A copy of the permit application shall be attached to the request. See also § 98-3J.
F.
If a permit is issued and due to inclement weather or
other good cause filming does not in fact take place on the dates specified,
the Borough Administrator may, at the request of the applicant and with proper
notice given to approving authorities and any affected property owners/tenants,
issue a new permit for filming on other dates subject to full compliance with
all other provisions of this chapter. No additional fee shall be paid for
this permit.
A.
A permit shall be limited to no more than five calendar
days.
B.
No more than two permits shall be issued by the Borough of Madison for filming that will take place in any residential zones, without a waiver pursuant to § 98-3J.
C.
Issuance of permits.
(1)
No permit shall be issued by the Borough Administrator
unless a completed application is filed with the Borough Clerk's office
at least 10 calendar days prior to the first date filming is to take place,
and where the filming is to take place in any commercial or business district,
a copy of the application is filed with the Downtown Manager at least 10 calendar
days prior to the first date filming is to take place. However, the Borough
Administrator may waive the 10 calendar-day period if, in the judgment of
the Borough Administrator, the applicant has obtained all required approvals
and adjacent property owners or tenants do not need to be notified.
(2)
Where the filming is to take place in any commercial
or business district of the Borough of Madison, the Downtown Manager shall
act as liaison to the tenants and owners in the commercial or business district.
In that regard, the Downtown Manager shall:
(a)
Distribute relevant information regarding the proposed
filming to the property owners and merchants in the commercial or business
district that may be affected;
(b)
Provide to the Police Department, and such other municipal
departments as may be necessary, written comments from the property owners
and tenants in the commercial or business district;
(c)
Contact the Madison Police Department and any other relevant
departments to coordinate the information with the property owners and tenants
in the commercial district; and
(d)
Upon issuance of a permit by the Borough Administrator,
the Downtown Manager shall be the coordinator and liaison between Borough
departments and the tenants and property owners in the commercial district
affected.
(3)
No permit shall be issued for filming upon public lands
unless the applicant shall provide the Borough with satisfactory proof of
the following:
(a)
Proof of insurance coverage as follows:
[1]
For bodily injury to any one person in the amount of
$1,000,000 and any occurrence in the aggregate amount of $3,000,000;
[2]
For property damage for each occurrence in the aggregate
amount of $500,000; and
[3]
A certificate of insurance shall be delivered to the
Borough Clerk which shall name the Borough of Madison as an additional insured
on the policy.
(b)
An agreement, in writing, in a form approved by the Borough
Attorney, whereby the applicant agrees to indemnify and save harmless the
Borough of Madison, its officers, employees and agents, from any and all liability,
expense, claim or damages resulting from the use of public lands;
(c)
The posting of a cash bond of $500 or a maintenance bond
of $1,000, running in favor of the Borough and protecting and insuring that
the location utilized will be left after filming in a satisfactory condition,
free of debris, rubbish and equipment, and that due observance of all Borough
ordinances, rules and regulations will be followed. Within two business days
of the completion of the filming, the Borough will return the bond if there
has been no damage to public property or public expense caused by the filming;
(d)
A contractual agreement with the Madison Police Department
for paid police coverage during the time indicated in the permit;
(e)
Proof of service of written notification of proposed
dates and lands to be used for production activities to any and all tenants
and property owners who will be directly affected by the filming and its site
location, and simultaneously said tenants and property owners shall be informed
that objections may be filed with the Borough Clerk. Such notification is
to take place at least three business days prior to the requested shooting
date, with proofs submitted to the Borough Clerk prior to issuance of the
permit;
(f)
A written approval from the Madison Police Department
authorizing issuance of the permit and providing any traffic control requirements
and public safety conditions; and
(g)
Where the filming is to take place in a business or commercial
district, a written memorandum from the Downtown Manager certifying he/she
has contacted the affected property owners or tenants and providing any concerns
of the tenants and property owners in the commercial or business district.
D.
The holder of the permit shall take all reasonable steps
to minimize interference with the free passage of pedestrians and traffic
over public lands and shall comply with all lawful directives issued by the
Madison Police Department with respect thereto.
E.
The holder of a permit shall conduct filming in such
a manner as to minimize the inconvenience or discomfort to adjoining property
owners attributable to such filming and shall, to the extent practicable,
abate noise and park vehicles associated with such filming off the public
streets. The holder shall avoid any interference with previously scheduled
activities upon public lands and limit to the extent possible any interference
with normal public activity on such public lands.
F.
The holder of a permit shall take all reasonable steps
to minimize the creation and spread of debris and rubbish during filming and
shall be responsible for removing all equipment, debris and other rubbish
from the filming location upon the completion of filming or the expiration
of the permit, whichever comes first.
G.
Filming, including setup and final cleanup, shall be
permitted Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
or sunset, whichever is earlier.
H.
The Borough Administrator may refuse to issue a permit
whenever he/she determines, on the basis of objective facts and after a review
of the application and a written report thereon by the Madison Police Department
and by other Borough departments involved with the proposed filming site,
that filming at the location and/or the time set forth in the application
would violate any law or ordinance or would unreasonably interfere with the
use and enjoyment of adjoining properties, or in the opinion of the Madison
Police Department would unreasonably impede the free flow of vehicular or
pedestrian traffic or otherwise endanger the public's health, safety
or welfare. Further, the Borough reserves the right to require one or more
on-site police officers in situations where the proposed production may impede
the proper flow of traffic, the cost of said officers to be borne by the applicant
as a cost of production. Where existing electrical power lines are to be utilized
by the production, on-site Borough Electric Department licensed employee(s)
may be required, and the cost of such employees is to be borne by the applicant
as a cost of production. If any services are required by employees from other
Borough departments, the cost of such employees is to be borne by the applicant
as a cost of production.
I.
Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Borough Administrator or the Borough of Madison denying or revoking a permit or a person requesting relief pursuant to § 98-3J herein may appeal to the Borough Council. A written notice of appeal setting forth the reasons for the appeal shall be filed with the Borough Clerk no later than 10 calendar days from the date of the denial or revocation of the permit. The Borough Council shall set the matter down for a hearing within 30 calendar days of the day on which the notice of appeal was filed. The decision of the Borough Council shall be in the form of a resolution. A resolution supporting the decision of the Borough Administrator or granting relief pursuant to § 98-3J shall be adopted by the Borough Council at the first regularly scheduled public meeting of the Borough Council after the hearing on the appeal, unless the appellant agrees in writing to a later date for the decision.
J.
The Borough Council may authorize a waiver of any of
the requirements or limitations of this chapter, and may authorize filming
on other public property not defined as public lands and may authorize filming
other than during the hours herein described or may extend the duration of
a permit beyond five calendar days or may permit filming at a particular location
in a residential zone on more than two occasions during any one calendar year
or may waive any other limitation or requirement of this chapter whenever
it determines that strict compliance with such limitations will pose an unreasonable
burden upon the applicant and that such a permit may be issued without endangering
the public's health, safety and welfare.
K.
Copies of the approved permit will be sent by the Borough
Clerk to the Police Department, Fire Department, Downtown Manager, the Department
of Public Works, and the Board of Health. Copies shall be sent to any appropriate
New Jersey state agencies, including the New Jersey Film Commission.
L.
The applicant shall notify the Police Department, the
Fire Department, Downtown Manager and the Board of Health 24 hours before
filming takes place and shall permit the Police Department, the Fire Department,
the Board of Health or other Borough inspectors to inspect the site and the
equipment to be used. The applicant shall comply with all safety instructions
issued by Borough inspectors, including the Police Department, the Fire Department
and the Board of Health.
M.
In addition to any other fees or costs mentioned in this
chapter, the applicant shall reimburse the Borough for any lost revenue or
repairs to public property.
The schedule of fees for the issuance of permits authorized by this
chapter are as follows:
C.
Waiver of fees for student. The fees set forth in § 98-4 shall be waived when filming is done by a student in a grade school, middle school, high school, college, university or other bona fide educational institution upon receipt by the Borough Clerk of a written certification from a teacher or administrator at the school attended by the student stating that the filming is for educational purposes only and is not intended for commercial use.
[Amended 5-8-2006 by Ord. No. 19-2006]
Any person violating this chapter or these rules and regulations, upon
conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $2,000 per day
or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding 90 days, or
both. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on
which a violation occurs or continues.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:
A.
The filming of news stories within the Borough of Madison;
B.
Filming by one individual using a hand-held camera without
the assistance of other persons; and
C.
Filming for authorized Madison Borough municipal government
purposes as may be authorized by the Madison Borough Council or the Borough
Administrator.
If any sentence, section, clause, or other portion of this chapter or
the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall for any reason
be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment
shall not affect, impair, or repeal the remainder of this chapter.
