[Added 2-4-2008 by Ord. No. O-08-003]
A. 
Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTIES
A gathering of local neighborhood residents held without charge and intended to be attended by local neighborhood residents held not more than one time per year where the participants contribute food and beverages and/or pay a small fee to cover the costs of same, and which is held to foster neighborhood well-being and community harmony.
TOWNSHIP PROPERTY
Any and every public street, public building, highway, sidewalk, square, public park or playground or any other public place within the Township of Hillside ("the Township") which is within the jurisdiction and control of the Township.
B. 
Permits.
(1) 
No person or organization shall conduct a neighborhood block party on Township Property without first having obtained an event permit (hereinafter also referred to as "permit") from the office of the Township Clerk, which permit shall set forth the approved location of such event and the approved duration of such event by specific reference to date or dates and times, including that of setup and breakdown. Said permit must be readily available for inspection by Township officials at all times at the site of the event.
(2) 
All permits shall be applied for and obtained from the office of the Township Clerk during normal business hours. Applications for such permits shall be on an approved form, a copy of which shall be attached to the permit.
(3) 
A permit shall be valid to conduct events for the period of time specified in the permit.
(4) 
There can be no change in the approved dates and times, including rain dates, once a permit has been issued.
(5) 
The Township Clerk is hereby authorized to establish written protocol and rules in order to implement the objectives and requirements set forth within this article.
(6) 
All persons/organizations seeking a permit to conduct a neighborhood block party necessitating the use or closure of Township property must either:
[Amended 6-10-2008 by Ord. No. O-08-016]
(a) 
Obtain event insurance in the amount of no less than $1,000,000, proof of which is to be supplied as part of a complete event permit application;
(b) 
Execute an indemnification and hold-harmless agreement, in favor of the Township, as part of the event permit application.
A. 
No permit shall be issued by the Township Clerk unless it has been applied for, by way of submitting a complete application, at least 30 days prior to the scheduled date of the event and has been approved by the Township Council; provided, however, that the Township may waive the thirty-day period if in the opinion of the Council the applicant has obtained all relevant approvals and sufficient time remains to mobilize Township resources to accommodate the event without undue hardship to the Township or its residents and businesses.
B. 
The Township Clerk may refuse to issue a permit whenever he/she determines, on the basis of objective facts and after review of the application and reports from the Police Department, Fire Department, Building Department, Public Works Department, Health Department, Recreation Department and other Township agencies involved, that the event, the location and/or time set forth in the application would violate any law or ordinance, unreasonably interfere with use and enjoyment of neighboring properties or governmental activity, unreasonably impede the free flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic or otherwise adversely affect the public health, safety or welfare. The Township Police Department will have final authority to deny a permit based upon public safety concerns.
C. 
Copies of the approved permit shall be sent to the Township Council, Mayor, Police Department, Fire Department, Building Department, Public Works Department, Health Department and Recreation Department.
D. 
The permittee shall take all steps to minimize any interference with the free passage of pedestrian and vehicular traffic over Township Property and to comply with all lawful directions issued by the Hillside Police Department and Hillside Fire Department.
E. 
The permittee shall conduct the event in such a manner as to minimize the inconvenience to neighboring property owners.
F. 
Under certain circumstances, it may not be feasible to issue a permit within 30 days of receipt of an application. In such a case, the Township with take best efforts to alert the applicant as to when a decision to issue the permit will be rendered.
Any party aggrieved by the decision of the Township Clerk in issuing, denying or revoking a permit may appeal said decision to the Township Council.
A. 
Any person, organization or entity violating this article or the rules and regulations promulgated thereby, or the terms of the permit, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not less than $250 nor exceeding $1,250 per day. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
B. 
Additionally, any person, organization or entity violating this article may be prohibited from securing an event permit in the future.