[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Sunbury as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-22-2021]
Pursuant to 11 Pa.C.S.A. § 11018.15 of the Third Class City Code, the codification of a complete body of legislation for the City of Sunbury, County of Northumberland, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as revised, codified and consolidated into chapters, articles and sections by General Code, and consisting of Chapters 1 through 175, together with an Appendix, is hereby approved, adopted, ordained and enacted as a single ordinance of the City of Sunbury, which shall be known and is hereby designated as the "Code of the City of Sunbury," hereinafter referred to as the "Code."
The provisions of this Code, insofar as they are substantively the same as those of the Code of the City of Sunbury adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970, and the ordinances in force immediately prior to the enactment of this ordinance, are intended as a continuation of such ordinances and not as new enactments, and the effectiveness of such provisions shall date from the date of adoption of the prior ordinance. All such provisions are hereby continued in full force and effect and are hereby reaffirmed as to their adoption by the City Council of the City of Sunbury, and it is the intention of said City Council that each such provision contained within the Code is hereby reenacted and reaffirmed as it appears in said Code. Only such provisions of former ordinances as are omitted from this Code shall be deemed repealed or abrogated by the provisions of § 1-3 below, and only new or changed provisions, as described in § 1-6 below, shall be deemed to be enacted from the effective date of this Code, as provided in § 1-15 below.
A. 
Repeal of inconsistent ordinances. Except as provided in § 1-4, Legislation saved from repeal; matters not affected by repeal, below, all ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the provisions contained in the Code adopted by this ordinance are hereby repealed as of the effective date given in § 1-15; provided, however, that such repeal shall only be to the extent of such inconsistency, and any valid legislation of the City of Sunbury which is not in conflict with the provisions of the Code shall be deemed to remain in full force and effect.
B. 
Repeal of specific ordinances. The City Council of the City of Sunbury has determined that the following ordinances are no longer in effect and hereby specifically repeals the following legislation:
(1) 
Former Chapter 3, Administration of Government: Article II, Department of Purchasing, of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(2) 
Former Chapter 18, Intergovernmental Agreements, which consisted of Article I, Schuylkill Region Insurance Cooperative, adopted February 13, 2006, by Ord. No. 1246; and Article II, Pennsylvania Municipal Health Insurance Cooperative, adopted February 13, 2006, by Ord. No. 1247, of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(3) 
Former Chapter 28, Officers and Employees, Article IV, City Physician, and Article VII, Deputy Health Officer, of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(4) 
Former Chapter 39, Records, which consisted of Article I, Public Access, adopted June 9, 2003, of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(5) 
Former Chapter 47, Social Security, of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(6) 
Former Chapter 82, Electrical Standards, adopted September 9, 1991, by Ord. No. 1156, as well as the following amending ordinances: January 28, 2002; March 24, 2003; December 27, 2004; and December 22, 2014; of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(7) 
Former Chapter 88, Fire Prevention, adopted September 9, 1991, by Ord. No. 1158, as well as the following amending ordinances: March 24, 2003; and December 22, 2014; of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(8) 
Former Chapter 103, Jake brakes®, adopted November 14, 2005, by Ord. No. 1243, of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(9) 
Former Chapter 110, Mechanical Standards, adopted September 9, 1991, by Ord. No. 1160, of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(10) 
Ordinance of May 5, 2011, amending Chapter 121, Peace and Good Order, of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(11) 
Former Chapter 127, Plumbing, adopted September 9, 1991, by Ord. No. 1159, as well as the following amending ordinances: March 24, 2003; and December 22, 2014; of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(12) 
Former Chapter 135, Sales, Special, of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(13) 
Former Chapter 145, Streets and Sidewalks, Article VII, Exercise of Power to Open and Alter Streets, adopted June 12, 2017, of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(14) 
Former Chapter 151, Taxation, Article IV, Occupation Tax, adopted December 28, 1987, by Ord. No. 1092, of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(15) 
Former Chapter 157, Transient Merchants, and the amending ordinance of February 28, 2005, of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(16) 
Former Chapter A180, Cable Television Franchise, adopted December 27, 2004, by Ord. No. 1236, of the Code of the City of Sunbury, adopted February 14, 1977, by Ord. No. 970.
(17) 
Ordinance No. 1027, regarding obstruction of streets and sidewalks, adopted July 13, 1981.
(18) 
An ordinance regarding obstruction of streets and sidewalks, adopted August 22, 1996.
(19) 
An ordinance regarding obstruction of streets and sidewalks, adopted July 24, 1997.
(20) 
An ordinance regarding obstruction of streets and sidewalks, adopted July 10, 2000. City of Sunbury.
The adoption of this Code and the repeal of ordinances provided for in § 1-3 of this ordinance shall not affect the following ordinances, rights and obligations, which are hereby expressly saved from repeal; provided, however, that the repeal of ordinances pursuant to § 1-3 or the saving from repeal of ordinances pursuant to this section shall not be construed so as to revive any ordinance previously repealed, superseded or no longer of any effect:
A. 
Any ordinance adopted subsequent to December 14, 2020.
B. 
Any right or liability established, accrued or incurred under any legislative provision of the City prior to the effective date of this ordinance or any action or proceeding brought for the enforcement of such right or liability or any cause of action acquired or existing.
C. 
Any offense or act committed or done before the effective date of this ordinance in violation of any legislative provision of the City or any penalty, punishment or forfeiture which may result therefrom.
D. 
Any prosecution, indictment, action, suit or other proceeding pending or any judgment rendered prior to the effective date of this ordinance, brought pursuant to any legislative provision of the City.
E. 
Any franchise, license, right, easement or privilege heretofore granted or conferred by the City or any lawful contract, obligation or agreement.
F. 
Any ordinance appropriating money or transferring funds, promising or guaranteeing the payment of money or authorizing the issuance and delivery of any bond of the City or other instruments or evidence of the City's indebtedness.
G. 
Any ordinance adopting an annual budget or establishing an annual tax rate.
H. 
Any ordinance providing for the levy, imposition or collection of special taxes, assessments or charges.
I. 
Any ordinance authorizing the purchase, sale, lease or transfer of property or acquiring property by acceptance of deed, condemnation or exercise of eminent domain.
J. 
Any ordinance annexing land to the City.
K. 
Any ordinance providing for or requiring the construction or reconstruction or opening of sidewalks, curbs and gutters.
L. 
Any ordinance or part of an ordinance providing for laying out, opening, altering, widening, relocating, straightening, establishing grade, changing name, improvement, acceptance or vacation of any right-of-way, easement, street, road, highway, sidewalk, park or other public place or property or designating various streets as public highways.
M. 
Any ordinance establishing water, sewer or other special purpose districts and designating the boundaries thereof; providing for a system of sewers or water supply lines; or providing for the construction, extension, dedication, acceptance or abandonment of any part of a system of sewers or water supply lines.
N. 
Any ordinance providing for the making of public improvements.
O. 
Any ordinance providing for the salaries and compensation of officers and employees of the City or setting the bond of any officer or employee.
P. 
Any ordinance concerning changes and amendments to the Zoning Map.
Q. 
Any ordinance relating to or establishing a pension plan or pension fund for municipal employees.
R. 
Any ordinance or portion of an ordinance establishing a specific fee amount for any license, permit or service obtained from the City.
S. 
Any currently effective ordinance providing for intergovernmental cooperation or establishing an intermunicipal agreement.
All ordinances of a general and permanent nature adopted subsequent to the date given in § 1-4A and/or prior to the date of adoption of this ordinance are hereby deemed to be a part of the Code and shall, upon being printed, be included therein. Attested copies of all such ordinances shall be temporarily placed in the Code until printed supplements are included.
A. 
Nonsubstantive changes. In compiling and preparing the ordinances of the City for adoption and revision as part of the Code, certain nonsubstantive grammatical and style changes were made in one or more of said ordinances. It is the intention of the City Council that all such changes be adopted as part of the Code as if the ordinances so changed had been previously formally amended to read as such.
B. 
Substantive changes and revisions. In addition to the changes and revisions described above, changes and revisions of a substantive nature, as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof, are hereby made to various ordinances included in the Code.[1] These changes are enacted to bring provisions into conformity with the desired policies of the City Council, and it is the intent of the City Council that all such changes be adopted as part of the Code as if the legislation so changed had been previously formally amended to read as such. All such changes and revisions shall be deemed to be in effect as of the effective date of the Code specified in § 1-15.
[1]
Editor's Note: In accordance with § 1-6B, the chapters, articles and sections which were added, amended, adopted or repealed by this ordinance are indicated throughout the Code by a history referring to Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I. During routine supplementation, histories indicating amendments, additions or deletions will be replaced with the following history: "Amended (added, repealed) 11-22-2021." Schedule A, which contains a complete description of all changes, is on file in the City offices.
C. 
Nomenclature changes and revisions. The following nomenclature changes are made throughout the Code:
(1) 
"Department of Environmental Resources" is changed to "Department of Environmental Protection."
(2) 
"District Justice," "District Magistrate," and "Magistrate" are changed to "Magisterial District Judge."
(3) 
"Department of Highways" is changed to "Department of Transportation."
(4) 
The USDA's "Soil Conservation Service" and "SCS" are changed to "Natural Resources Conservation Service" and "NRCS."
(5) 
"Code Enforcement Office," "Office of Code Enforcement," and "Code Office" are changed to "Code Administration Office."
In interpreting and applying the provisions of the Code, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare. Where the provisions of the Code impose greater restrictions or requirements than those of any statute, other ordinance, resolution or regulation, the provisions of the Code shall control. Where the provisions of any statute, other ordinance, resolution or regulation impose greater restrictions or requirements, the provisions of such statute, other ordinance, resolution or regulation shall control.
A. 
Chapter and article titles, headings and titles of sections and other divisions in the Code or in supplements made to the Code are inserted in the Code and may be inserted in supplements to the Code for the convenience of persons using the Code and are not part of the legislation.
B. 
Editor's notes indicating sources of sections, giving other information or referring to the statutes or to other parts of the Code are inserted in the Code and may be inserted in supplements to the Code for the convenience of persons using the Code and are not part of the legislation.
At least one copy of the Code in a post-bound volume shall be filed with the Ordinance Book in the office of the City Clerk and shall remain there for use and examination by the public. Upon adoption, such copy or copies shall be certified to by the City Clerk, as provided by law, and such certified copy or copies shall remain on file in the office of the City Clerk, available to persons desiring to examine the same during all times while said Code is in effect.
Any and all additions, deletions, amendments or supplements to the Code, when passed and adopted in such form as to indicate the intention of the City Council to be a part thereof, shall be deemed to be incorporated into such Code so that reference to the Code shall be understood and intended to include such changes. Whenever such additions, deletions, amendments or supplements to the Code shall be adopted, they shall thereafter be printed and, as provided hereunder, inserted in the post-bound book containing said Code as amendments and supplements thereto.
It shall be the duty of the City Clerk or someone authorized and directed by him or her to keep up-to-date the certified copy or copies of the book containing the Code required to be filed in the office of the City Clerk for the use of the public. All changes in said Code and all legislation adopted by the City Council subsequent to the effective date of this codification which the City Council shall adopt specifically as part of the Code shall, when finally adopted, be included therein by reference until such changes or new legislation are printed as supplements to said Code books, at which time such supplements shall be inserted therein.
The City Clerk, pursuant to law, shall cause to be published in the manner required a notice of the introduction and of the adoption of the Code in a newspaper of general circulation in the City. The enactment and application of this ordinance, coupled with the publication of the notice of introduction, the availability of a copy or copies of the Code for inspection by the public and the filing of an attested copy of this ordinance with the county, as required by law, shall be deemed, held and considered to be due and legal publication of all provisions of the Code for all purposes.
It shall be unlawful for anyone to improperly change or amend, by additions or deletions, or to alter or tamper with the Code or any part or portion thereof in any manner whatsoever which will cause the law of the City to be misrepresented thereby. Any person who violates or permits a violation of this section of this ordinance shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment thereof, by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days.
The provisions of this ordinance and of the Code adopted hereby are severable, and if any clause, sentence, subsection, section, article, chapter or part thereof shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid or unconstitutional, such judgment or decision shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof but shall be confined in its operation and application to the clause, sentence, subsection, section, article, chapter or part thereof rendered illegal, invalid or unconstitutional. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the City Council that this ordinance and the Code would have been adopted if such illegal, invalid or unconstitutional clause, sentence, subsection, section, article, chapter or part thereof had not been included therein.
All provisions of this ordinance and of the Code shall be in force and effect 10 days after adoption of this ordinance.