The final responsibility for the installation of the improvements required by this chapter rests with the applicant. Upon installation of improvements in accordance with the specifications of the approved plan and the Borough Engineer, the applicant must take the final steps to dedicate the improvements and have them accepted by the Borough.
A. 
No plan shall be finally approved unless the streets shown on such plan have been improved as may be required by this chapter, and any walkways, curbs, gutters, streetlights, fire hydrants, shade trees, water mains, sanitary sewers, storm drains and other improvements as may be required have been installed in accordance with this chapter. In lieu of the completion of any improvements required as a condition for the final approval of a plan, the developer shall deposit with the Borough Council a corporate bond or other financial security in an amount sufficient to cover the costs of any improvements which may be required. Such financial security may include, among others, a lending institution's irrevocable letter of credit or a restrictive or escrow account in a lending institution. Such bond, or other security, shall provide for, and secure to the public, the completion of any improvements which may be required. The amount of financial security or bond shall be equal to 110% of the cost of the completion estimated as of 90 days following the date scheduled for completion by the developer. The procedures for securing the appropriate securities or bonds and related requirements shall be as outlined in § 509 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as reenacted and amended.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10509.
B. 
If financial security has been provided in lieu of the completion of improvements required as a condition for the final approval of a plan as set forth in this section, the municipality shall not condition the issuance of building, grading or other permits relating to the erection or placement of improvements, including buildings, upon the lots or land as depicted upon the final plan upon actual completion of the improvements depicted upon the approved final plan. Moreover, if said financial security has been provided, occupancy permits for any building or buildings to be erected shall not be withheld following: the improvement of the streets providing access to and from existing public roads to such building or buildings to a mud-free or otherwise permanently passable condition, as well as the completion of all other improvements as depicted upon the approved plan, either upon the lot or lots or beyond the lot or lots in question if such improvements are necessary for the reasonable use of or occupancy of the building or buildings.
A. 
When the developer has completed all of the necessary and appropriate improvements, the developer shall notify the Borough Council, in writing, by certified or registered mail, of the completion of the aforesaid improvements and shall send a copy thereof to the Borough Engineer. In addition, the developer shall forward as-built drawings of all improvements. The Borough Council shall, within 10 days after receipt of such notice, together with the as-built drawings, direct and authorize the Borough Engineer to inspect all of the aforesaid improvements. The Borough Engineer shall, thereupon, file a report, in writing, with the Borough Council and shall promptly mail a copy of the same to the developer by certified or registered mail. The report shall be made and mailed within 30 days after receipt by the Borough Engineer of the aforesaid authorization from the Borough Council. Said report shall be detailed and shall indicate approval or rejection of said improvements, either in whole or in part; and, if said improvements, or any portion thereof, shall not be approved or shall be rejected by the Borough Engineer, said report shall contain a statement of reasons for such nonapproval or rejection.
B. 
The Borough Council shall notify the developer, within 15 days of receipt of the engineer's report, in writing by certified or registered mail, of the action of the Borough Council with relation thereto.
C. 
If the Borough Council or the Borough Engineer fails to comply with the time limitation provisions contained herein, all improvements will be deemed to have been approved and the developer shall be released from all liability, pursuant to its performance guaranty bond or other security agreement.
D. 
If any portion of the said improvements shall not be approved or shall be rejected by the Borough Council, the developer shall proceed to complete the same and, upon completion, the same procedure of notification, as outlined herein, shall be followed.
E. 
Nothing herein, however, shall be construed in limitation of the developer's right to contest or question by legal proceedings or otherwise, any determination of the Borough Council or the Borough Engineer.
F. 
Where herein reference is made in this chapter to the Borough Engineer, he shall be engaged as a consultant thereto.
G. 
To cover inspection costs, the developer must pay a fee to be established by the Borough Council. Any unused portion of this fee will be refunded to the developer upon completion of the inspections.
In the event that any improvements which may be required have not been installed as provided in this chapter or in accord with the approved final plan, the Borough Council is hereby granted the power to enforce any corporate bond, or other security by appropriate legal and equitable remedies. If proceeds of such bond, or other security are insufficient to pay the cost of installing or making repairs or corrections to all the improvements covered by said security, the Borough Council may, at its option, install part of such improvements in all or part of the subdivision or land development and may institute appropriate legal or equitable action to recover the moneys necessary to complete the remainder of the improvements. All of the proceeds, whether resulting from the security or from any legal or equitable action brought against the developer, or both, shall be used solely for the installation of the improvements covered by such security, and not for any other purpose.
The offer to dedicate streets, or other areas or portions of them, does not impose any duty upon the Borough concerning maintenance or improvement until the proper authorities of the Borough have made actual appropriation by ordinance or resolution or by entry or improvement. If land is dedicated for a public site and its use for this purpose is not imminent, the developer may be permitted to dedicate the land with the privilege of using the surface rights until the Borough is ready to use the land. Such dedication with the temporary privilege of use must be noted on the final plan.
On sites reserved for eventual public acquisition, no building development is permitted during the period of reservation, said period of time not to extend more than 18 months without consent of the developer. Such land reservations shall be noted on the final plan.
Recording the final plan after approval of the Borough Council has the effect of an irrevocable offer to:
A. 
Dedicate all streets and other public ways to public use.
B. 
Dedicate all public areas to public use.
C. 
Reserve for possible future public acquisition such additional areas as may be required by the Borough.
Where the Borough Council accepts dedication of all or some of the required improvements following completion, the Borough Council may require the posting of financial security to secure structural integrity of said improvements as well as the functioning of said improvements in accordance with the design and specifications as depicted on the final plan for a term not to exceed 18 months from the date of acceptance of dedication. Said financial security shall be of the same type as otherwise required in § 350-48 with regard to installation of such improvements, and the amount of the financial security shall not exceed 15% of the actual cost of installation of said improvements. Defective improvements include any defect in material or workmanship that was latent in character and not discernible at the time of final inspection or acceptance by the Borough and/or any damage to improvements by reason of the settling of ground, base or foundation thereof. However, any damage to the street surface caused by tire chains, snow removal equipment or utility cuts by others are not the responsibility of the developer.