In the absence of a specific and written agreement whereby the Township has taken responsibility for the removal of ice and snow from a sidewalk, the owner of each property within the Township abutting upon a sidewalk open to the public for pedestrian traverse or located, in whole or in part, within the right-of-way of a public or private street on which the property abuts shall keep the said sidewalk, together with any portion of the property paved and used as a sidewalk or public walk, immediately in front of the property in good order and repair and, at all times, free and clear of all obstruction to safe and convenient passage, including the accumulation of snow or ice.
[Adopted by Ord. No. 2018-03]
In the absence of a specific and written agreement whereby the Township has taken responsibility for the removal of ice and snow from a sidewalk, the owner, occupant or tenant of every property abutting any sidewalk or public walk as described in § 105-72 above shall be required to remove or cause to be removed from the full width and length of all of said abutting sidewalk or public walk snow and/or ice thereon fallen or formed, within 24 hours after said snow or ice shall have ceased to fall or be formed.
If the owner of any property neglects at any time to perform the duties herein described, the Township Board of Supervisors or its designee may serve written notice upon him requiring him to perform the necessary maintenance or repair. The notice shall specify the time by which said maintenance or repair shall be commenced and the time by which it shall be completed. The notice provided for in this section may be served on the property owner by leaving the same at his place of residence, or if such place of residence is unknown to the Township, by posting the same on the abutting property.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
If such property owner fails to comply with the requirements of the notice described in § 105-74 within the time period specified therein, the Township may assess a fine not exceeding $1,000 for each violation. The notice of assessment of a fine ("fine notice") shall be served on the owner, occupant or tenant by hand delivery or by both certified mail, return receipt requested, and regular mail to the postal address of the property abutting the sidewalk. Upon failure of the owner, occupant or tenant to pay the fine within the time period prescribed in the fine notice, they shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial District Judge under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this article that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense. All fines and penalties collected for the violations of this article shall be paid to the Township Treasurer.