[Ord. No. O.1751-2010; 3-12-2025 by Ord. No. O.2245-2025]
In the interest of public welfare and the sound quality of life of its residents, Edison Township hereby establishes the Adopt an Area Program to provide for the sufficient maintenance of, and landscaping to, its parks, open spaces, vacant Township-owned properties, Township-owned streets, Township-owned Right-of-Ways, and landscaped areas in order to preserve and maintain them through the participation of Adopters as provided herein.
[Ord. No. O.1751-2010; 3-12-2025 by Ord. No. O.2245-2025]
a. 
Administrative Officer. The Director of the Department of Public Works, or their designee, shall administer the "Adopt an Area" program.
b. 
Eligibility of Participants. Any individual, organization, or group (referenced as "Applicant" prior to approval and as "Adopter" once approved), interested in adopting an area to provide maintenance services such as cutting of lawns, watering, fertilizing, raking and removing leaves, trees and shrub trimming and/or removal, removing litter, weeding, mulching, flower and shrub planting and light pruning at regular times throughout the year, may petition to participate in the program. Minor applicants, those under the age of 18, must have a sponsoring individual over the age at 18 co-sign their applications.
c. 
Application Requirement. Any person interested in adopting an area shall complete an application and submit to the Township Clerk including:
1. 
General Information. The name and address of the person, persons of an organization or group, firm, corporation or other legal entity conducting the area maintenance;
2. 
Corporation Information. In case of a corporation, the names and addresses of all officers and stockholders of the corporation;
3. 
Limited Liability Company Information. In case of a limited liability company, the names and addresses of all officers and members of the limited liability company;
4. 
Location. The location of the Township park, open space, vacant Township-owned property, Township-owned street or Township-owned right of way and/or landscaped area they propose to maintain.
5. 
Signage. Proposed signage to be used at the area and proposed location for such signage, if provided by the Adopter.
6. 
Insurance. Insurance may be required as a condition of approval depending on the location of the adopted area and risks involved in maintaining that area.
7. 
Maintenance Plan. A description detailing what steps and what actions the Adopter will take to provide the continuous care and maintenance of the area from debris, trash and refuse.
d. 
Application Review. Upon receiving such a request the Township Clerk shall forward the request to the Administrative Officer who shall review the request in consultation with any other Directors or Departments as appropriate. Requests for adoption of areas shall be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. If more than one (1) applicant simultaneously request the same location, a lottery will be held by the Administrative Officer to select which applicant will adopt that location. The Administrative Officer will make the final determination, subject to Township Council approval, as to whether a particular applicant can participate and make final assignments as to the area and forward their recommendations to the Township Council for action.
e. 
Application Fee. There shall be no application fee for the Adopt an Area program.
[Ord. No. O.1751-2010; 3-12-2025 by Ord. No. O.2245-2025]
a. 
Length of Adoption. A minimum one (1) year commitment is required. The max length to initially adopt an area shall be two (2) years. Nothing shall prevent the Adopter from requesting subsequent renewals of one (1) year durations following the initial term of adoption.
b. 
Maintenance Responsibilities. The Adopter shall maintain the approved area in a workman-like and professional manner. The activities of the Adopter on the approved area shall at all times be subject to the direction of the Administrative Officer.
c. 
Debris Disposal. Any tree and bush trimmings, leaves, cut grass that is not mulched into the lawns, garbage collected and other debris shall be removed from the approved area. For any litter items the Adopter will coordinate with the Department of Public Works for trash pickup.
d. 
Signage by Township. If a lot is adopted after the procedures have been followed, as set forth herein, an appropriate sign or signs may be erected by the Township in a place in the adopted area displaying the fact that the area has been adopted under this program and has qualified as a lot appropriately cared for and maintained by the Adopter. Should the Adopter no longer be participating in this program or approval is revoked, the sign shall be promptly removed and discarded by the Township. Sign availability is subject to fund availability and is not guaranteed.
e. 
Signage by Adopter. The Adopter of an area may make a request to the Administrative Officer to provide their own signage. The location of the sign shall be subject to Township approval. The sign may be no larger than six (6) total square feet in size. The total height of the installed sign, as measured to the top of the sign including support posts, shall not exceed seven (7) feet from grade. The sign shall contain the language: "Edison Township Adopt an Area Program. This Area adopted by" followed by the name of the Adopter(s). Any approved sign shall be maintained in good condition. Any sign approved that is not maintained in good condition will be removed and discarded by the Township. Any unapproved signs will be removed and discarded by the Township. Should the Adopter no longer be participating in this program, or their approval is revoked, the sign shall be promptly removed by the Adopter and if not so removed it will be removed and discarded by the Township.
f. 
Applicable Provisions. The Adopter shall comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and ordinances in addition to the terms of this program.
g. 
Periodic Inspections. Periodic inspections may be performed by the Township Engineering and Planning Department to verify an Adopter's compliance with the ordinances, rules, and regulations governing the Adopt An Area Program.
h. 
Revocation of Adoption Status. Any approved Adopter for any area may be revoked by the Administrative Officer for failure to comply with any of the terms of this program
i. 
Removal of Area as Adoptable. An adopted area, at the discretion of the Administrative Officer, can be removed from the Adopt An Area program at any time.
[3-12-2025 by Ord. No. O.2245-2025]
An Adopter cannot engage in or do the following activities upon an area under the Adopt An Area program.
a. 
Park or store, repair or maintain, cars, trailers, boats, or any other vehicle.
b. 
Planting, cutting or removal of trees, unless first approved by the Township. For any tree planting requests, information including type, size and location shall be provided to the Township for review.
c. 
Place or construct any permanent structures on the adopted lot, including but not limited to: sheds, paving materials (concrete, asphalt, etc.), playground equipment, etc.
d. 
Place or store debris, construction materials, junk, excessive garden decorations, or personal belongings.
e. 
Create any compost piles.
f. 
Conduct any business transactions, for fee, free or otherwise, of any kind on the adopted area.
g. 
Rent, lease, sublet, sell, or assign the adopted area to any person or organization.
h. 
Remove any Township signage.
i. 
Conduct religious services on an adopted area.
j. 
Serve or consume alcoholic beverages or any illicit or banned drugs;
k. 
Allow pets or any other animals to be housed, to roam freely, or to be unleashed. Pet owners must clean up after their animals;
l. 
Make any fire:
m. 
Community gardens are not an approved use as part of the Adopt an Area program.
[3-12-2025 by Ord. No. O.2245-2025]
a. 
Hold harmless. Applicants must sign an agreement to hold the Township harmless and indemnify the Township from liability for activities performed in connection with the program.
b. 
Non-Employee Status of Participants. No individual, organization or group who performs any activity, work or services under this program shall be deemed to be an employee of the Township, but merely volunteers, and the Township shall be held harmless from any negligent or careless acts of the individual, organization or group in the performance of any functions under the program.
c. 
Tools and Equipment. The Township shall not be obligated to supply any tools, equipment, supplies, or personnel for this program. The Adopter may make request through the Township's Clean Communities program for such supplies, but the Township shall not be required to provide.
d. 
Legal Ownership Retention by Township. The Township will maintain full and continuous legal ownership of any adopted Township-owned areas under the Adopt An Area Program. The Township's approval of an application or execution of any subsequent agreement shall not be intended or construed as a grant to an Adopter of any ownership interest in the subject Township-owned lot(s).
e. 
Ownership Change of Township Property. If at any time the Township sells an area which is adopted, and the Adopter is not the buyer, the adoptee must immediately cease any and all activity on the lot. The adoptee is solely responsible for, and must immediately remove, all fencing that adoptee erected on the lot.