(A) It shall be the duty of the owner, or occupant, or any person or persons, agent, firm, or corporation having control and/or management of any parcel of property zoned either R-l, R-l-S, RR or in a platted subdivision, to prevent weeds, grasses, brush or other vegetation from growing to a height of greater than 12 inches within 50 feet of principal dwelling, nor shall such owner, agent, or occupant permit an accumulation of dead weeds, grasses, brush or other vegetation of a height greater than 12 inches on any such properties. Nothing in this section shall apply to trees, flower gardens, vegetation planted for ornamental purposes, or vegetation in vegetable gardens. The presence of such weeds upon any such parcel of property is hereby declared to be a public nuisance.
(B) The Township Supervisor or his/her designated agent shall notify by personal delivery or by posting on the premises, the owner, agent or occupant of any of the lands on which prohibited grasses, weeds, vegetation or brush is found. Such notice shall contain a description of the prohibited condition and a summary of the provisions of this section. If the owner, agent or occupant of such land has failed within seven days after such notice is received to cut, destroy or remove the prohibited condition, the Township Supervisor or his/her designated agent may enter upon such land and destroy and/or otherwise remove the prohibited weeds, grasses, brush or other vegetation. Express power to so enter such lands and perform such duties is hereby conferred upon the Township Supervisor or his/her designated agent. All expenses incurred in such destruction and/or removal shall be billed to and paid by the owner, agent, or occupant of such lands. If such owner, agent, or occupant shall not pay such statement when due, the amount of expenses incurred by the township in destroying and/or removing such condition shall be paid from the township general fund and the amount thereof assessed against the lands on which such expenditures were made on the next general assessment roll of the township and shall be collected in the same manner as other taxes are collected. The township shall have a lien upon such lands for such expense, such lien to be enforced in the manner prescribed by the general laws of the state providing for the enforcement of tax liens.
(C) In addition to the above, any owner or occupant, or person or persons, agent, firm, or corporation having control and/or management of any parcel of land who shall violate any of the provisions of this section or fails to comply therewith, may be responsible for a municipal civil infraction, at the discretion of the Township Supervisor or his/her designated agent. Upon being found responsible of such violation, such owner or occupant, or person or persons, agent, firm or corporation shall be assessed a fine not to exceed $100. The imposition of a municipal civil infraction fine for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue. The imposition of the above fine shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions. Further violations subject the owner or occupant, or person or persons, agent, firm or corporation to subsequent municipal civil infraction violations. The Township Supervisor or his/her designated agent is hereby authorized to write and serve municipal civil infraction tickets. This municipal civil infraction ticket shall serve as notice of the alleged violation. Proceedings for the municipal civil infraction shall proceed as provided in the Townsliip Municipal Civil Infractions Ordinance.
(Ord. 60, passed 7-8-2015)