[Adopted 9-10-1873]
[Amended 2-10-1976 by Ord. No. 1-1976; 2-7-1977 by Ord. No. 2-1977; 6-1-1998 by Ord. No. 4-1998; 7-2-2007 by Ord. No. 4-2007]
A. 
Yard to be mowed by owner or owner's agent. The owner or owner's agent shall maintain all premises and the exterior property free from weeds and grass in excess of 10 inches in height. All noxious weeds are prohibited. Weeds are defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs; provided, however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens. Yard clippings shall not be blown into and left in the street. The owner of a property shall be solely responsible for conforming to the requirements of this subsection.
B. 
Snow and/or ice to be removed by owner or owner's agent. The owner or owner's agent of every property fronting upon or located alongside any of the streets in the Borough of Towanda is hereby required to remove or cause to be removed from all sidewalks abutting upon such property all snow and/or ice fallen or formed thereon within 24 hours after the same shall have ceased to fall or to be formed. The snow and/or ice shall be removed so as to clear a path not less than three feet wide. The snow and/or ice removed from the sidewalk shall not be dumped or piled onto any public street or public alley. The owner of a property shall be solely responsible for conforming to the requirements of this subsection.
C. 
Leaves to be removed by owner. The owner or owner's agent of every property fronting upon or located alongside any of the streets in the Borough of Towanda is hereby required to remove or cause to be removed from all sidewalks abutting upon such property all accumulation of leaves which would cause an obstruction or a hazard to any person using said sidewalks. All leaves fallen or formed thereon shall be removed so as to clear a path not less than three feet. The leaves removed from the sidewalk shall not be dumped or piled onto any public street or public alley. The owner of a property is solely responsible for conforming to the requirements of this subsection.
D. 
Failure to comply.
(1) 
The owner of any property failing, neglecting or refusing to comply with any of the provisions of Subsection A, B, or C of this section within the time limit prescribed therein shall receive a written notice of said initial violation. No more than one written notice shall be given in a calendar year for said violation. Subsequent violations in a given calendar year may be cited immediately without written notice.
(2) 
In any case where the owner or owner's agent shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with any of the provisions of Subsection A, B, or C of this section within the time limit prescribed therein, the Borough authorities may proceed immediately to mow the yard, clear all snow and/or ice and/or leaves from the sidewalk of such delinquent property and to collect the expenses thereof, with any additional amount allowed by law, from such owner, which may be in addition to any fine or penalty imposed under § 264-3 of this article, by municipal lien or other legal action.
Any owner who shall fail to mow the owner's yard or remove any snow or ice or leaves from any sidewalk as required by § 264-2A, B and C of this article shall, upon conviction thereof before the Magisterial District Judge, be sentenced to pay a fine of no more than $25 and the costs of prosecution. Each day failing to comply with such provision shall constitute a separate violation. Such fine and costs of prosecution may be in addition to any expenses and additional amounts authorized by law or imposed as provided in § 264-2D of this article.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
SIDEWALK
That area of any parcel of land regularly used by the pedestrian public for crossing said land and which fronts upon or is located alongside any of the streets of the Borough, whether said area is paved or unpaved.
YARD
The property from front curb to rear property line, and from side-to-side property lines.
All persons having areaways in the public streets, or in the sidewalks of said Borough, not covered by safe and substantial coverings, shall, within 30 days after the publication of this article, close and cover the same, provided that any person paying the Borough Treasurer the sum of $10 each year for the use of the areaway may retain the same, and provided also that he keep the areaways safely protected and the entry thereto after business hours secured by gates or bars. Hereafter it shall not be lawful to erect or maintain areaways in the streets or walks of said Borough without first having the consent of the Council.