As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any brush, hedges and other plant life on lands within the Borough.
The Council hereby finds and declares that the existence of plant life growing within 10 feet of any roadway and within 25 feet of the intersection of two roadways to a height in excess of 2 1/2 feet is inimical to the preservation of public safety and general welfare and is likely to constitute a traffic hazard.
Whenever it shall appear to the Enforcement Officer that the existence upon any land within the Borough of plant life growing within 10 feet of any roadway and within 25 feet of the intersection of two roadways and exceeding 2 1/2 feet in height is hazardous to the public safety or general welfare of the residents of the Borough or those using its highways, or constitutes a safety hazard, the owner or tenant of any such lands shall be required to cut such plant life to a height of not more than 2 1/2 feet within 10 days after service of written notice from the Enforcement Officer requiring such trimming or cutting.
Such notice may be served upon the owner or tenant of the lands by delivering it to him or by mailing it registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to him at his last known address. Delivery of the notice shall mean handing it to the owner or the tenant or leaving it at his dwelling house or usual place of abode with some competent member of his family of the age of 14 years or over then residing therein. Service by mail shall be deemed complete upon the date of delivery of the registered or certified article as appears on the return receipt from the postal authorities.
Every such notice shall, in addition to requiring the cutting as aforesaid, warn the owner or tenant of the lands to which it refers that failure to accomplish such cutting will result in the cutting by or under the direction of the Enforcement Officer. The notice shall also state that in the event of the cutting by the Enforcement Officer, the cost of such cutting shall forthwith become a lien upon the lands and shall be added to and become a part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon it, to bear interest at the same rate and to be collected as in the case of such taxes.
Whenever the owner or tenant of any lands receiving notice to cut any plant life from the lands shall have neglected or refused to effect the cutting of the plant life in the manner and within the time hereinabove provided, such cutting shall be accomplished by or under the direction of the Enforcement Officer, who, upon completion thereof, shall certify the cost to the Council. The Council shall examine the certificate and, if it shall find it to be correct, it shall cause the cost so certified to be charged against such lands. In the event that such costs are excessive, the Council shall cause the reasonable costs thereof to be charged against the lands. The amount of such charge shall forthwith become a lien upon the lands and shall be added to and become and form a part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon the lands, to bear interest at the same rate as taxes and to be collected and enforced by the same Enforcement Officers and in the same manner as taxes.