[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Matamoras 3-5-1974
as Ord. No. 162, approved 3-5-1974; amended
in its entirety 8-2-1976 by Ord. No. 178,
approved 8-2-1976. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
There shall be levied, collected and paid within the Borough of Matamoras,
by every person, firm, association or corporation operating an overhead line
of telegraph or telephone, or an overhead line for a supply of light, heat
or power, or a pipeline for light, heat, power, telephone, gas, water, heat
or sewerage, a license tax on each pole, each mile of wire and cable, and
mile of pipe mains used in said operations.
Any and every such person, firm, association or corporation shall, on
or before the first day of January of each and every year, apply to the Borough
Treasurer for a license which shall expire on the 31st day of December following
and include twelve (12) calendar months. The Borough Treasurer shall issue
each license upon the payment to him of the sum provided for in this chapter,
provided that all persons, firms, associations or corporations commencing
business after the first day of January shall pay a pro rata of the whole
year and all licenses shall begin on the first day of the month.
Each and every person, firm, association or corporation shall pay into
the office of the Borough Treasurer, for the use of the borough, the sum of
ten dollars and fifty cents ($10.50) for each pole, the sum of thirty-three
dollars ($33.) for each mile of wire or fractional part thereof, the sum of
ninety dollars ($90.) for each mile of cable or fractional part thereof, the
sum of twenty-seven dollars ($27.) for each mile of pipe or fractional part
thereof, and the sum of twenty-seven dollars ($27.) for each mile of main
or fractional part thereof, located upon, above or beneath any public street
or alley of said borough, used or employed by said person, firm, association
or corporation in the conduct of its business.
All poles, wires and cables of all persons, firms, associations or corporations
furnishing service to the public, and the route of all pipelines used for
furnishing service to the public, shall be inspected at least once a month
by a person selected by the Council of the Borough of Matamoras.
It shall be the duty of the person so appointed or selected to report
to the Mayor, and to the person, firm, association or corporation engaged
in furnishing service to the public, any and all defects or imperfections
in the poles or lines of wires and cables, or any depressions or unevenness
in the route of a pipeline, and any and all noticeable breaks in pipelines.
Any person, firm, association or corporation who fails to comply with
any or all of the requirements of this chapter, or who fails or refuses to
comply with any notice, order or direction of the Inspector, within five (5)
days after receipt of notice of such noncompliance, shall be guilty of an
offense and, upon conviction, shall pay a fine to the Borough of Matamoras
of not more than fifty dollars ($50.), plus costs of prosecution. In default
of such payment, such offender shall be imprisoned in county prison for a
period not to exceed thirty (30) days. Each day during which any violation
of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense. In addition
to the above penalties, all other actions are hereby reserved, including an
action in equity for the proper enforcement of this chapter. The imposition
of a fine or other penalty for any violation of or noncompliance with this
chapter shall not excuse the violation or noncompliance nor permit it to continue,
and all violators shall be required to correct or remedy such violations and
noncompliance within five (5) days after receipt of notice as aforesaid.
