(a) No person shall plant, transplant, injure, trim, spray or remove any tree or shrub located within the right-of-way lines of streets without prior written authorization of the Tree Committee or its duly designated agent, the Borough Manager. On a voluntary basis, without any legal requirements to do so and without legal obligation to continue with such a voluntary program, the Council may, from time to time, as finances and circumstances shall permit, take appropriate action and make appropriate expenditures to do any or all of the following:
(1) To conduct a periodic inspection of the trees and shrubs planted within the lines of the streets and highways;
(2) To take emergency action to trim or remove any trees, bushes or shrubs which encroach upon or interfere with the safe use of a street or sidewalk, or any dead or decaying tree which constitutes a danger to the public or to private property; and
(3) To let bids and make contracts to purchase, plant, conserve, care for and foster such shade trees within the lines of the streets and highways within the Borough or any portion thereof.
(b) It is expressly intended that the cost of caring for the shade trees in the Borough, to include those planted within the lines of the streets and highways thereof, shall be the responsibility of the property owner. Any voluntary action taken by the Borough, pursuant to this chapter, with respect to shade trees planted within the lines of the streets and highways thereof, shall not create any obligations on the part of the Borough to continue such action, nor shall it limit, ameliorate or change the obligation of the landowner.
(Ord. 798. Passed 8-11-80.)