[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Masontown 8-14-1961 by Ord. No. 171, approved 8-14-1961. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Housing standards and property maintenance — See Ch. 86.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PERSON
Includes, but not by way of limitation, any firm, person, corporation and/or association.
WEEDS
Iincludes any and all vegetable growth which exhales unpleasant and noxious odors, high and rank vegetable growth that may conceal filthy deposits and/or similar vegetation not edible or planted for some useful or ornamental purpose. Weeds shall be further defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation. Cultivated flowers, gardens, trees and shrubs shall not be included as a violation of this chapter.
[Amended 8-9-2016, approved 8-9-2016]
[Amended 7-10-2007, approved 7-10-2007; 8-9-2016, approved 8-9-2016]
A. 
Effective immediately, it shall be unlawful for any person owning, occupying, leasing or having control or jurisdiction of any lands within the Borough of Masontown to permit, suffer or allow any weeds to grow on said lands or along the streets, lanes, alleys and/or sidewalks abutting said lands in excess of eight inches in height.
B. 
Moreover, it shall be unlawful to cut or discharge said weeds on to any streets, lanes, alleys and/or sidewalks of the Borough of Masontown.
Upon written notice from the Mayor, every such person shall cut such weeds within 10 days from the date of the mailing of said notice to him, and if any such person shall fail or neglect to cut such weeds, said Mayor may cut, or cause to be cut, such weeds and remove, or cause to be removed, the same, and the cost of performing such work, together with a penalty of 10% of the cost of such work shall be paid by any such person within 10 days after notice of the amount so due, and if not paid, the Borough is hereby empowered to file a lien therefor against such lands in the name of and for use of said Borough, as provided by law for municipal claims in addition to other remedies available for collection of debts due said Borough.
[Amended 6-9-1987 by Ord. No. 1987-1, approved 6-9-1987]
Any person who fails or neglects to cut such weeds within 10 days from the date of the mailing of the notice to him requiring him to cut such weeds shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $300 and costs of such proceedings or, upon default of payment of such fine and costs, by imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not more than 30 days; provided, however, that if the District Justice determines that the defendant is without the financial means to pay the fines and costs immediately or in a single remittance, such defendant shall be permitted to pay the fines or costs in installments and over such periods of time as the District Justice deems to be just.
This chapter is deemed necessary to promote the health and general welfare of the residents of the Borough of Masontown.