Borough of Sharon Hill, PA Chapter 110 Assemblies, Public

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Borough of Sharon Hill 12-28-1972 by Ord. No. 1019 (Ch. 38 of the 1972 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Garbage, refuse and rubbish — See Ch. 184.

Health and sanitation — See Ch. 195.

Littering — See Ch. 216.

Noise — See Ch. 225.

§ 110-1 Purpose.

The Borough Council, in order to promote proper government and ensure the proper protection, order, conduct, safety, health, welfare and well-being of persons and property within the Borough of Sharon Hill, finds that it is in the public interest to enact this chapter. This chapter shall regulate the assembly of persons where such assembly exceeds 200 persons at any place within the Borough of Sharon Hill, except where such assembly is organized by and under the direct control of a volunteer fire company within the Borough, a fraternal or civic organization having a local chapter within the Borough, or a religious corporation having a house of worship within the Borough.

§ 110-2 Definitions.

A. Definitions. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings herein indicated:

ASSEMBLY

The gathering or collecting or congregating of persons at any place within the Borough, with or without the levy of an admission fee, for a common purpose such as, but not limited to, sports events, circuses, carnivals, festivals, music festivals and religious observances.

BUILDING

A structure wholly or partially enclosed with exterior walls and a roof, of permanent or temporary nature, affording shelter to persons, animals or property.

MAY

Is permissive.

PERSON

Any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation or group.

SHALL

Is mandatory.

STRUCTURE

A combination of materials to form a construction that is safe and stable, including, among other things, stadiums, stages, prop forms, radio towers, sheds, storage bins, tents, billboards, space signs, bleachers, ramps and seats.

B. Word usage. Words used in the present tense include the future, the singular number includes the plural, and the masculine shall include the feminine.

§ 110-3 Permit required.

No person shall use, allow, let or permit to be used property for the assembly of persons in excess of 200 persons, nor shall any person use, allow, let or permit to be used property for any part or portion of such assembly of persons which total assembly in the aggregate is in excess of 200 persons, unless upon written permit authorizing such use and assembly issued by the Borough Council through the Borough Secretary.

§ 110-4 Application for permit.

Application for such permit shall be made on forms to be furnished by the Borough, addressed to the Borough Council and filed with the Borough Secretary at least 45 days prior to the date upon which such use and assembly shall occur. The Borough Council shall act upon the application within 30 days after its submission. Such application shall include the following information:

A. A statement of the name, age and residence address of the applicant; if the applicant is a corporation, the name of the corporation and the names and addresses of its directors and officers; if the applicant does not reside within the Borough of Sharon Hill, the name and address of an agent who shall be a natural person and who shall reside in or have a place of business in Delaware County, and who shall be authorized to and shall agree by verified statement to accept notices or summonses issued with respect to the application, the conduct of the assembly or use in any manner involving it arising out of the application for permit or construction or application of this chapter.

B. A statement containing the address of the property and the name and address of the record owner of the property where the assembly and use shall occur and the nature and interest of the applicant therein; the proposed dates and hours of such assembly and use; the expected maximum number of persons intended to use the property at one time and collectively; the expected number of automobiles and vehicles intended to use the property at one time and collectively; and the purpose of the assembly and use, including the nature of the activity to be carried on and the admission fee to be charged, if any.

C. A map prepared by a licensed land surveyor or licensed public engineer, showing the size of the property; the zoning district (if any) in which it is located; the names of the record owners of the adjoining properties; the streets or highways abutting the said property; the size and location of any existing building, and of any proposed buildings or structures to be erected for the purpose of the assembly and use; and the method, construction and materials to be used in any new building or structure.

D. A plan or drawing to scale, prepared by a licensed public engineer or licensed land surveyor, showing the method and manner in which:

(1) Sanitary facilities are to be provided for the disposal of human waste, garbage and other debris.

(2) Water is to be supplied, stored and distributed to those people attending.

E. A plan drawn to scale showing the layout of any parking area for motor vehicles, including the means of egress and ingress to such parking area.

F. A statement containing the type, number and location of any radar device, sound amplifier or loudspeaker, sound truck or other similar sound equipment.

G. A statement specifying whether food or beverages are intended to be prepared, served or distributed. If food or beverages are intended to be prepared, sold or distributed, a statement specifying the method of preparation and distribution of such food or beverages and the method of disposing of garbage, trash, rubbish or any other refuse arising therefrom. If food or beverages are to be prepared, sold and distributed, a plan or drawing to scale must be attached to the application, showing the buildings or other structures from which the food or beverages shall be prepared, sold or distributed.

H. A statement specifying whether any private security guards or police will be engaged, and if so, the number of such persons and the duties to be performed by such persons, including the hours to be worked and areas of responsibility.

I. A statement specifying the precautions to be utilized for fire protection, including a plan or drawing to scale specifying the location of fire lanes and water supply for fire control.

J. A statement specifying whether any outdoor lights or signs are to be utilized, and if so, a map showing the number, location, size, type and illuminating power of such lights and signs.

K. A statement specifying the facilities to be available for emergency treatment of any person who may require medical or nursing attention.

L. A statement specifying whether any camping or housing facilities are to be available, and if so, a plan drawn to scale showing the intended number and location of the same.

M. A statement specifying the contemplated duration of assembly and use.

N. If the assembly and use are to continue from one day into another, a statement specifying the camping or housing facilities available or to be made available on the premises.

§ 110-5 Required minimum facilities.

No permit shall be issued unless it is clearly shown that all of the following are provided for and approved in writing by the Borough Board of Health and Borough Council:

A. Drinking water adequate in quantity and quality satisfactory to the permit-issuing official. Drinking water shall be readily available to all persons attending the assembly or use. Only drinking water shall be so delivered or piped as to be easily accessible. A well or spring used as a source of drinking water and the structure used for the storage of drinking water shall be so constructed and located as to protect the contents against pollution. A pipe or pump delivering the drinking water shall be of the type and installation acceptable to the permit-issuing official. There shall be no physical connection between a pipe carrying drinking water and a pipe carrying water not of a quality satisfactory to the permit-issuing authority. A fixture, installation or equipment from which backsiphonage may occur shall not be supplied water from a pipe carrying drinking water. All pipes carrying drinking water shall be buried to a depth below the surface of the ground sufficient to prevent their damage or destruction. A common drinking container shall not be provided or allowed to be used. Any drinking fountain shall be of approved sanitary design and construction. Where water-treatment process is employed, an accurate and complete report of the process and operation thereof shall be maintained daily, and no change in the source or in the method or treatment of a drinking water supply shall be made without first notifying the permit-issuing official and securing his written approval to do so.

B. Toilet facilities adequate for the capacity of the assembly or use. These facilities shall be so located as to be conveniently available and shall be so constructed and maintained that they will not be offensive. Toilet facilities for groups of people consisting of both sexes shall be so arranged that the facilities shall be separate for each sex. No privy shall be so located or constructed that it will by leakage or seepage possibly pollute a water supply, surface water or adjacent ground surface, but such privy shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Borough Board of Health and shall be so maintained that it will not permit access of flies to the privy vault.

C. Adequate facilities for the satisfactory disposal or treatment and disposal of sewage shall be maintained. Such facilities shall meet with the standards and requirements of all applicable laws, ordinances and regulations.

D. Adequate facilities and arrangements for safe, clean disposal of solid waste, garbage and trash.

E. Adequate supply of food, including provisions for sanitary storage, handling and protection of food and beverages until served or used. A showing must be made that where food is to be prepared or consumed there are facilities for washing, disinfecting and storing dishes and food utensils.

F. Adequate off-street and off-road facilities for the contemplated number of people attending the assembly or use. Parking space shall be provided for at least one car for every four persons in attendance.

G. Adequate camping and housing facilities for the contemplated number of people in attendance if it is contemplated that the assembly or use shall extend from one day to another.

H. An adequate number of access roads to and from the site of the assembly or use.

I. Adequate medical facilities, including a first-aid station. It must be shown that at least one doctor shall be in attendance at all times and that at least one registered nurse for each 500 people in attendance will be on duty at all times.

J. Adequate fire protection arrangements for buildings.

§ 110-6 Right of entry for inspections required.

No permit shall be issued unless the owner and his tenant or lessee, if any, shall furnish the Borough with written authorization to permit the Borough or its lawful agents to go upon the property at any time for the purpose of inspecting the same and the facilities provided thereon and for the cleaning of the premises after the termination of the assembly.

§ 110-7 Insurance and security deposit requirements.

No permit shall be issued unless the applicant shall furnish the Borough with a comprehensive liability insurance policy insuring the Borough against liability for damage to person or property, with limits of not less than $500,000/$1,000,000 for bodily injury or death, and limits of not less than $500,000 for property damage, sufficient to save the Borough harmless from any liability or cause of action which might arise by reason of the granting of the permit and not cancellable without 10 days' prior written notice to the Borough. The applicant shall further provide to the Borough a security deposit of $500 to ensure the removal of trash and other waste material as hereinafter provided, which deposit shall be returned to the applicant within 10 days from the date of termination of the assembly after deduction therefrom of all expenses caused by the applicant's noncompliance to remove said trash and other waste material.

§ 110-8 Cleanup requirements.

Within five days from the date of the termination of the assembly, trash, paper, garbage and other waste material shall be completely removed from the premises in a safe, clean and sanitary manner.

§ 110-9 Revocation of permit.

Any permit issued may be revoked by the Borough Council through the Borough Secretary if at any time it should be determined that the applicant has failed to provide the facilities as specified in the application or that the setting up of the facilities provided for in the application cannot be reasonably accomplished within the time or date set for the assembly or use.

§ 110-10 Application fee.

Each application shall be accompanied by a fee in the amount of $500 at the time of its submission. The fee shall compensate the Borough for its examination and processing of such application and shall not be refundable in whole or in part.

§ 110-11 Enforcement; violations and penalties.

A. Any person who shall use, allow, let or permit to be used property for the assembly of persons in excess of 200 or shall use, allow, let or permit to be used property for any part or portion of such assembly which total assembly in the aggregate is in excess of 200 persons or any person who shall cause the gathering, collecting or congregating of persons in excess of 200 at any place within the Borough without first obtaining a written permit in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to have violated this chapter and shall be liable for the penalties provided. Any person who commits or permits any act in violation of any provision of this chapter shall be deemed to have violated this chapter and shall be liable for the penalties provided.

B. Any person who shall be convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter before any District Magistrate shall be sentenced to pay a maximum fine as provided from time to time by state statute, together with costs of prosecution, or to imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed 30 days, or both.

[Amended 7-14-1988 by Ord. No. 1180]

C. In addition to the above-provided penalties, the Borough Council may maintain an action or proceeding in the name of the Borough in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with, or to restrain by injunction the violation of, such chapter.

§ 110-12 Provisions for security protection.

[Added 7-13-1989 by Ord. No. 1187]

No permit shall be issued unless the applicant shall make the proper arrangement with the Sharon Hill Police Department and the Borough officials to reimburse Borough police officers to provide sufficient security to the area. The amount of police protection and payment thereof shall be at the discretion of the Borough Council.