In order to better provide for the planting, maintenance and protection
of shade trees within or partially within the ultimate right-of-way along
public streets and highways of Skippack Township, Pennsylvania, and also upon
public lands of the township, the Skippack Township Shade Tree Commission
is hereby established pursuant to the Second Class Township Code of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
BOARD
Board of Supervisors of Skippack Township.
DRIPLINE
The line marking the outermost edges of the branches of a tree, trees
or woodlands.
PERSON
An individual, firm, association, partnership or corporation.
SHADE TREE
Any tree fully or partially within the ultimate right-of-way along
any public street or highway, or any tree on public lands or in public easements.
For the purposes of this chapter, the term "shade tree" shall include the
following: any tree with any part of its dripline or root system within the
ultimate right-of-way along any public street or highway, any tree required
to be planted by the Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and any tree required in a deed restriction on any lot.
SPECIMEN PLANT
A specifically selected plant considered worthy of conservation by
the township because of species, size, shape, form, historical importance
or any other significant characteristic, particularly as applied to trees
over 20 inches in diameter.
The Shade Tree Commission shall annually report in full to the Board
its transactions and expenses for the last fiscal year of the township.
The Shade Tree Commission shall meet at least quarterly at such times
and on such dates as the Commission may establish. All meetings shall be public
meetings held in the township building. Meetings shall be advertised in conformity
with the law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Except in case of necessity or for the protection of life or property,
it shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to do any of the following
acts:
A. Cut down or remove any shade tree, or interfere in any
manner with the main roots of any shade tree.
B. Spray any shade tree with injurious chemicals or insecticides,
oil, gas, gasoline, liquid dye, salt water or other substance deleterious
to tree life about the roots of any shade tree in such manner that injury
may result to any shade tree.
C. Place any rope, guy wire, cable, sign, poster or other
fixture on a shade tree or on a shade tree guard.
D. Injure, misuse or remove any device placed to protect
shade trees.
E. Place or pile any building materials, cement, stone or
other substances which shall impede the passage of water and air to the roots
of any shade tree within the dripline of any shade tree.
F. Attach any electric wire, insulator or any device for
the holding of an electric wire to any shade tree.
In connection with any building operation or the performance of any
work whatsoever in the township in the vicinity of any shade trees, before
any such work shall be commenced, guards shall be placed at all shade trees
which may be affected by such work, so as to effectively prevent injury to
them. Shade trees shall be protected by a physical barrier (such as a snow
fence) to be erected at the dripline of any tree or woodlands.
Provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Shade Tree Commission
and by the Code Enforcement Officer and his duly authorized representatives.
All penalties or assessments imposed under this chapter shall be paid
to the Township Treasurer to be placed to the credit of the Shade Tree Commission,
subject to be drawn upon by the Commission for the purposes of the preceding
sections.