[Adopted 4-6-2006 by Ord. No. 10-06]
This article shall be known and cited as the "Mine Hill Township Ordinance Regulating Playing Fields."
The following words shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
COMMITTEE
The Community and Recreation Advisory Committee.
[Amended 2-16-2012 by Ord. No. 04-12[1]]
DIRECTOR
The Township Director of Recreation.
MUNICIPALITY
The Township of Mine Hill.
ORGANIZED ACTIVITY
Any use of playing fields under the control and/or sponsorship of a league, organization or corporation.
PERMIT
Any written license issued by or under the authority of the Township, permitting an event or activity on a playing field or playing fields.
PERSON
Any natural person, corporation, company, association, joint-stock association, firm or copartnership.
PLAYING FIELDS
Any of the recreational areas that are located on Township-owned property, including but not limited to soccer fields, baseball fields, softball fields, football fields, and other playing fields utilized for the organized activities of the Community and Recreation Advisory Committee.[2]
POLICE or OFFICER
Any person employed by the Police Department as a regular or special police officer.[3]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
A. 
Opening hours. All playing fields shall open at 8:00 a.m., unless otherwise posted by signs.
B. 
Closing hours. All playing fields shall close at 9:00 p.m. from September 1 through May 31 and at 10:00 p.m. from June 1 through August 31, unless otherwise posted by signs.
A. 
Required for organized activity. No playing field shall be used by any group of 10 or more persons without a previously issued permit by the Committee for the use of said playing fields. Any person or group of persons may use any of the playing fields for a permitted use, provided that no person or organization has previously been issued a permit for use of said facilities by the Committee and that no organized activity has been previously scheduled on such playing field; provided, however, that no organized activity shall be allowed on any portion of any playing field prior to issuance of a permit for any such organized activity.
B. 
Application. Any person, organization or group of persons seeking the issuance of a permit shall file an application with the Committee, and this application shall state the following:
(1) 
The name and address of the applicant;
(2) 
The name and address of the person, persons, corporation or association sponsoring the activity, if any;
(3) 
The day and hours for which the permit is desired;
(4) 
The playing field or portion thereof for which such permit is desired;
(5) 
An estimate of the anticipated number of participants;
(6) 
An estimate of the anticipated attendance;
(7) 
A copy of the insurance policy covering the event shall be provided with each application.
C. 
Standards for issuance. The Committee shall issue a permit hereunder when it finds that the activities for which the permit is sought are not in violation of the requirements of this article and that that portion of the playing fields sought to be used is available and it would not conflict with any other organized activity.
D. 
Appeal. In the event a person, group or organization is denied a permit by the Committee, said person, group or organization may appeal the denial of said permit to the Mayor by filing a written notice of appeal to the Mayor within 48 hours after being officially notified of the denial of the permit by the Committee. The Mayor shall thereafter, as soon as possible, schedule a hearing to ascertain all of the facts involving the application for the permit, and the Mayor may overrule the decision of the Committee and authorize the issuance of a permit. In the event that the Mayor shall deny the permit after the hearing, the person, group or organization shall then appeal the denial of the Mayor for the permit to the Council by filing a written notice of appeal to the Municipal Council within 48 hours after the official denial of the permit by the Mayor. The Municipal Council shall thereafter, as soon as possible, schedule a hearing to ascertain all of the facts involving the application for the permit, and the Municipal Council may overrule the decision of the Mayor and authorize the issuance of a permit.
E. 
Indemnification and insurance. In those instances where a permit is applied for and granted so as to allow for the use of a playing field for any organized activity other than a purely social or civic or cultural activity, then, in such an event, the permittee shall be required to execute an indemnification agreement as well as provide the appropriate levels of liability insurance to protect the interests of the municipality.
F. 
Exhibit permit. No person shall fail to produce or exhibit any permit upon the request of the Mayor, Council person, member of the Committee or police, whichever the case may be, which he claims to have and who shall desire to inspect the same for the purpose of enforcing and complying with any ordinance or rule.
Any person violating any provision of this article shall be subject to the following penalty:
A. 
Maximum penalty.
(1) 
For violation of any provision of this article, the maximum penalty, upon conviction, shall be as set forth in § 1-3, General penalty, of the Code of the Township of Mine Hill.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
(2) 
The maximum penalty stated in this section is not intended to state an appropriate penalty for each and every violation. Any lesser penalty, including a nominal penalty or no penalty at all, may be appropriate for a particular case or a particular violation.
B. 
Separate violations. Except as otherwise provided, every day in which a violation of any provision of this article exists shall constitute a separate violation. Except as otherwise provided, each and every person participating in any event on any playing field or attending the event as a spectator shall be subject to citation for violation of this article.