[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Union 11-24-1992 by Ord. No. 4222 (Ch. 494 of the 2004 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
No person may place or maintain any outdoor telephone on or above any public street or sidewalk without having first obtained a permit as provided in this chapter. Permits shall be issued subject to the approval of the location and means of installation of the telephone by the Construction Code Official of the Township of Union. Before installation, a plan or sketch of the telephone shall be furnished in sufficient detail to describe the size, location, equipment and means of installation and cabling. The Township of Union shall be notified before the removal of any telephone before receiving a permit.
[Amended 9-10-2002 by Ord. No. 4745]
The initial fee for a permit shall be $325 for each telephone. The annual renewal fee shall be $200 for each telephone.
The Township of Union shall be informed of the intent of any person to remove or relocate a telephone.
The Township of Union may reject any permit application or require the removal of an existing outdoor public telephone if the public telephone has the potential to or has demonstrated a propensity to create or contribute to illegal or illicit activities or otherwise interfere with free passage of pedestrians and the rights of the public.
[Amended 5-25-1993 by Ord. No. 4245]
No fees shall be charged for telephones furnished by the Township of Union as an accommodation to the public or for permits issued to any person or entity who or which pays a franchise fee or tax for use of public facilities. Such person or entity shall not, however, be exempt from the regulatory provisions of the Municipal Code.
A. 
Any telephone installation subject to this chapter shall comply with the following standards:
(1) 
No booth surrounding a telephone shall exceed eight feet in height, four feet in width or four feet in thickness.
(2) 
Each telephone shall be equipped with a coin-return mechanism to permit a person using the machine to secure an immediate refund if a call cannot be placed. The coin mechanism shall be maintained in good working order.
(3) 
Each telephone shall have affixed to it, in a place visible to everyone using the telephone, the name and address of the distributor and the telephone number of a working telephone service to report a malfunction, secure a refund or give the notices provided for in this chapter.
(4) 
Telephones shall be maintained in a neat and clean condition and in good repair at all times. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a telephone shall be serviced and maintained so that:
(a) 
It is reasonably free of chipped, faded, peeling and cracked paint in the visible painted areas thereof.
(b) 
It is reasonably free of rust and corrosion in the visible unpainted metal areas thereon.
(c) 
Any clear plastic or glass parts are unbroken and reasonably free of cracks, dents, graffiti, blemishes and discolorations.
(d) 
Any paper or cardboard parts or inserts are reasonably free of tears, peeling or fading.
(e) 
The structural parts thereof are not broken or unduly misshapen.
(f) 
The telephone receiver is attached to the telephone.
B. 
Any person who fails to maintain a telephone in working condition may be given a ten-day notice by the Township of Union to repair the telephone.
C. 
Each telephone shall, upon the written request of the Chief of Police, be capable of being restricted to outgoing calls only within 10 days of the request.
[Amended 10-26-2004 by Ord. No. 4842]
A. 
Telephones shall permit the following calls to be placed without charge:
(1) 
Calls to the 911 emergency number.
(2) 
Emergency calls placed through operator assistance to the Police and Fire Departments.
B. 
Current telephone rates for a local coin call shall be posted on the telephone or on the telephone booth if applicable.
C. 
Toll rate quotations must be available for the operator upon request.
A. 
No telephone shall be installed in a residential zone.
B. 
No telephone shall be permitted to rest upon, in or over any public street or sidewalk when such installation, use or maintenance:
(1) 
Endangers the safety of persons or property.
(2) 
Unreasonably interferes with or impedes the flow of pedestrians or vehicular traffic, including any legally parked or stopped vehicles.
C. 
Telephones shall be placed or otherwise secured so as to prevent their being blown down or around the public street or sidewalk but shall not be chained or otherwise secured to any traffic or street signs, signals, hydrants or mailboxes.
The owners of existing public telephones shall apply for the permit required hereunder within 30 days from the date this chapter becomes final. The Township of Union reserves the right to reject any and all locations submitted for approval based upon their existing conformance to this chapter.
[Amended 5-25-1993 by Ord. No. 4245; 10-26-2004 by Ord. No. 4842; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Violators will have 30 days to remove pay telephones that do not have permits, or the Township shall have the pay telephone removed, and the violators shall pay for all removal and storage costs. Any violation of this chapter shall also subject the violator to one or more of the following: a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $2,000, imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days. Each noncomplying pay telephone violation will constitute a separate violation. Each day of said violation shall constitute a separate violation.
[Added 5-25-1993 by Ord. No. 4245]
The Township Clerk's office shall notify the Deputy Chief of the Police Department of the location of any pay telephone which does not comply with the provisions of this chapter. The Police Department shall enforce the provisions of this chapter.