[Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
This Part shall be known and may be cited as the "Public Gathering
Ordinance."
[Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
PERSON IN CHARGE OF PROPERTY
An agent, occupant, lessee, contract purchaser or person
other than the owner, having possession or control of property.
PUBLIC GATHERING
All assemblies of people for the purpose of public amusement
reasonably anticipated to number more than 1,000 for a continuous
period of four hours or more, more than 10% of whom will assemble
outdoors or in structures specially constructed, erected or assembled
for the gathering, whether or not an admission fee is charged.
SPONSOR
Any natural person, association, partnership firm, corporation,
joint venture, or any other legal entity whatsoever, who initiates,
organizes, promotes, permits, conducts or causes to be advertised
a public gathering.
[Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
No public gathering shall be held within the boundaries of the
Township, unless the sponsor, the owner of property, and the person
in charge of property upon which the gathering will be conducted,
jointly apply for and be granted a permit as herein provided
A. No permit shall be available for an extent of more than 48 hours
duration unless permit and application specifically allow for an extension
of that period.
B. No applicant shall be under 21 years of age.
C. No permit shall be transferred or assigned.
D. In case of dispute over the number of people reasonably anticipated
to attend the public gathering, the decision of the Board of Supervisors
shall control.
[Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
The applicants shall submit with their application a corporate bond of indemnity in a form approved by the Township Solicitor, and in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Security Ordinance [Chapter
1, Part
7] to save and protect Township streets, pavements, bridges, road signs and all other township property from any and all damage that might be caused by vehicles, employees, or participants in the public gathering, and to be used, if necessary, to restore the premises where such public gathering is held to a sanitary and neat condition and pay all charges and losses to the Township for damages to the streets, pavements, bridges and all other Township property.
A. Should the permitted public gathering necessitate that the Township
deploy or employ additional personnel as a direct result of the public
gathering, such added expense shall be recoverable from the principals
and/or their indemnitor. The cash deposit or its balance will be returned
to the applicants upon final audit of the Township as to what damages,
if any, occurred and what deployment and employment of personnel,
if any, was necessitated.
B. The property owner or person in charge of the property making application
shall sign as an additional indemnitor, to insure against damage to
streets, pavements, bridges, road signs, and all other township property,
to meet costs of the Township for deploying or employing personnel
directly attributable to the conduct of the public gathering, and
to insure that the property will be restored to a sanitary condition.
[Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
All facilities, including stage, to be specially assembled,
constructed, or erected for the public gathering must be in place
at least 24 hours before the commencement of the public gathering
and be approved by the Township Code Official.
[Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
Any person, firm, or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this Part, or fails to comply therewith, or with any of the requirements
thereof, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a magisterial
district judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary
offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall
be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $300 nor more than $1,000
plus costs, including reasonable attorney fees incurred by the Township,
and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment
to the extent permitted by law for the punishment of summary offenses.
A separate offense shall arise for each day or portion thereof in
which a violation of this Part is found to exist and for each section
of this Part found to have been violated. The Township may also commence
appropriate actions in equity or other to prevent, restrain, correct,
enjoin, or abate violations of this Part. All fines and penalties
collected for violations of this Part shall be paid to the Township
Treasurer. The initial determination of ordinance violation is hereby
delegated to the Township Manager, Police Department, the Code Official,
the authorized designee of the Township Manager, and to any other
officer or agent that the Township Manager or the Board of Supervisors
shall deem appropriate.
[Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
This Part shall in no way be a substitute for, nor eliminate
the necessity of, complying with any and all state laws, rules and
regulations, County and Township ordinances which are now, or may
in the future be, in effect which pertain to the conduct of public
gatherings.