Township of Greenwich, NJ Chapter 242 Brush, Weeds, Snow and Ice

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee (now Township Council) of the Township of Greenwich 11-7-1960. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Littering — See Ch. 445.

Property maintenance — See Ch. 520.

Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 605.

§ 242-1 Removal of snow, grass and weeds.

The owner or tenant of any lands abutting upon the public highways of Greenwich Township shall remove all snow and ice from the sidewalks and to the width of one foot out to the gutters in front of their said lands within 12 hours of daylight after the same shall fall or be formed thereon, and shall remove all grass, weeds and impediments therefrom within three days after notice to remove the same.

§ 242-2 Prohibition of obnoxious growths or substances.

[Amended 4-2-1990 by Ord. No. 4-1990; 11-4-2002 by Ord. No. 26-2002; 12-7-2009 by Ord. No. 28-2009]

A. No person, including any individual, firm, partnership, association, company, organization or corporation of any kind owning or renting property within the Township of Greenwich, shall permit brush, weeds, dead or dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, including tall uncultivated grass and weeds, vegetation, filth, garbage, trash or debris to exist on any real property within the Township of Greenwich.

B. All lawns, hedges, shrubs, bushes, weeds and growth or vegetation or any kind shall be kept trimmed and shall not be permitted to become overgrown, and no grass or weeds shall be permitted to grow to a height in excess of six inches.

§ 242-3 Limited height of brush, hedges.

[Amended 4-2-1990 by Ord. No. 4-1990[1]]

The owner or tenant of any lands lying within the limits of Greenwich Township shall keep all brush, hedges and other plant life growing within 10 feet of any roadway and within 25 feet of the intersection of two roadways cut to a height of not more than 2 1/2 feet, where it shall be necessary and expedient for the preservation of the public safety, within 10 days after notice to cut the same.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 242-4 Notice to remove or abate.

[Amended 11-4-2002 by Ord. No. 26-2002]

A. Where any enforcement officer duly designated determines that a property within the Township of Greenwich is in of violation §§ 242-1, 242-2 and/or 242-3, and that the removal of said violating condition is necessary and expedient for the preservation of the public health, safety or general welfare or to eliminate a fire hazard, he shall serve upon the owner or tenant of the violating property, a notice that said violations must be removed or cured within 10 days of service upon the owner or tenant.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

B. The following municipal officers are authorized to enforce this chapter: the Construction Code Official, or his designee, the Superintendent of Public Works, or his designee, and any other official designated by the Mayor.

§ 242-5 Service of notice to remove or abate.

[Added 11-4-2002 byOrd. No. 26-2002]

Service of notice to remove or abate may be made upon any owner and/or tenant personally, or if the designated enforcement officer is unable to make personal service, by posting such notices at the primary entrance to the main structure on the subject property. The enforcement officer may, at his discretion, also mail a copy of the notice to abate to the owner at the address shown on the tax records at the Office of the Tax Collector in the Township of Greenwich, by certified mail, return receipt requested.

§ 242-6 Failure to comply; lien.

[Amended 8-1-1988 by Ord. No. 10-1988; 4-2-1990 by Ord. No. 4-1990; 3-5-2001 by Ord. No. 6-2001; 7-1-2002 by Ord. No. 12-2002]

In case such owner or tenant refuses or neglects to comply with the terms of any notice given by the Municipal Officer, under the direction of the Mayor or his designee, the Municipal Officer shall take the proper corrective measures and said officer shall certify to the Township Council, the costs thereof, including labor, fees for use of equipment and disposal costs. The Council shall examine the certificate and, if found to be correct, shall cause the costs as shown thereon to be charged against the lands upon which such corrective measures were taken, and the amount as charged shall forthwith become a lien upon such lands and shall be added to and become and form part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon such lands. Costs shall be calculated as follows:

A. Labor: at the rate of $50 per hour for up to two laborers. For each laborer in excess of two, an additional $25 per laborer per hour shall be charged.

B. For use of equipment:[1]

(1) Manual push mower: $7.50 per hour.

(2) Weed and brush cutters, trimmer: $7.50 per hour.

(3) Chainsaw: $7.50 per hour.

(4) Miscellaneous gas- or electric-powered equipment: $7.50 per hour.

(5) Compact tractor with mower: $15 per hour.

(6) Pickup truck/tool truck: $15 per hour.

(7) Snow removal, deicing: $20 per hour.

(8) Tractor with mower: $19 per hour.

(9) Brush chipper: $20 per hour.

(10) Rubber-tire backhoe: $45 per hour.

(11) Dump truck, single-axle: $30 per hour.

(12) D3 dozer: $100 per hour.

(13) Three CY loader: $100 per hour.

(14) Street sweeper: $95 per hour.

(15) Trash truck: $135 per hour.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

C. Costs of disposal: the amount charged by the disposal facility, plus a 15% markup for administrative overhead.

§ 242-7 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 10-4-1976]

Any person who shall fail to comply with or who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall, on conviction of such violation, pay a fine not exceeding $500 or be subject to imprisonment for a term of not more than 90 days, or both, for each violation, in the discretion of the Municipal Judge.