[Added 2-4-2008 by Ord. No. O-08-003]
A.
NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTIES
TOWNSHIP PROPERTY
Definitions. As used in this article, the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated:
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.
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.
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.
