[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Penn 2-20-2019 by Ord. No. 927. Amendments noted where applicable.]
An exterior wall-mounted or recessed key box for use by emergency
personnel shall be installed in an accessible location of all commercial
or multiresidential structures of new construction, at the change
of ownership and/or occupancy of existing commercial structures or
on any renovation that requires a building permit through the Uniform
Construction Code. The Building Code Official, or his designee, in
consultation with the Township Emergency Management Coordinator or
Deputy Coordinator, shall approve the type, location, key requirement,
and key distribution. In addition to this requirement, all main access
roads to and from any commercial structure within the Township having
a chained or locked gate after hours of operation would require a
padlock equipped with a key box.
All such required key boxes shall have provisions to show an
alarm when the box is opened or removed from its installation. If
the premises has an alarm system, the key box shall be connected to
the system.
A.
Residential structures two stories or less in height, with an exit
door leading from each individual unit which discharges directly to
a public way, a yard, or an open space, are exceptions to this chapter.
B.
Any business that must provide a higher level of security due to
the nature of its work or to maintain a security clearance, or any
business which maintains confidential client files, including but
not limited to legal documents, medical documents, or other records
that must be kept secure by law, may achieve alternative compliance
by providing the Township Emergency Management Coordinator emergency
contact information twenty-four-hours a day, seven days a week.
(1)
Said alternative compliance will be revoked if the Township emergency
services are unable to reach the listed contact individuals on more
than one occurrence.
(2)
Said contact information should be updated on a regular basis, and
may provide for up to three alternative contacts if a primary contact
is not available.
(3)
It is the responsibility of a business claiming said exemption to
ensure that emergency contact information is up to date.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall give notice, by personal
service or registered mail, to the owner of any failure to install
an exterior wall-mounted or recessed key box, or of any failure to
house the appropriate keys within said key box, or any other violation
of this chapter, requiring compliance with the terms within 10 business
days of receipt of said notice.
A.
Upon failure of the owner to timely comply with a notice for the affected premises or promptly meet with the Code Enforcement Officer and/or Township Emergency Management Coordinator or Deputy Coordinator, to formulate a mutually agreeable remediation plan, in appropriate cases, and to complete same within the agreed-upon time period, the Township shall issue a citation in accordance with this subsection and Subsection B.
B.
Enforcement remedy.
(1)
Any person, firm or corporation who or which shall violate or fail,
neglect or refuse to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter
shall, upon conviction thereof in a summary proceeding before a district
justice having jurisdiction of the matter, be sentenced to pay a fine
of not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 and cost of prosecution
and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to undergo imprisonment
in the county jail for not more than 30 days, provided that each day's
violation shall constitute a separate offense, and neither notice
to the offender of a single day's violation nor repeated notice
of a continuing violation shall be necessary in order to constitute
an offense.
(2)
In addition thereto, the Township may institute injunctive, mandamus
or any other appropriate action or proceeding at law or equity for
the enforcement of this chapter or to correct violations of this chapter,
and any court of competent jurisdiction shall have the right to issue
restraining orders, temporary or permanent injunctions or mandamus
or other appropriate forms of remedy or relief.
