For the purposes of this chapter the following
words shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section, unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise.
PERSON
Any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
TOWNSHIP
Township of Exeter, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
WEEDS
All grass, plant life or vegetation whatsoever, which is
not edible, or is not planted for some useful or ornamental purpose,
or which throws off any unpleasant or noxious odor, or which conceals
any filthy deposits or tends to create or produce pollen.
[Amended 6-9-1997 by Ord. No. 433; 1-10-2000 by Ord. No.
495]
Every person owning or occupying any property
within the Township upon which property weeds have grown so as to
exceed a height of six inches, throw off any unpleasant odor, conceal
any filthy deposit or create or produce pollen shall cut or remove
such weeds or cause them to be cut or removed, on or before May 15,
July 15 and September 15 of each and every year. Any weeds so growing
upon any premises in the Township, or which in any other manner violate
any of the provisions of this chapter are hereby declared to be a
nuisance and detrimental to the health, safety, welfare, cleanliness
and comfort of the inhabitants of the Township.
[Amended 11-13-2017 by Ord. No. 786]
A. The Board of Supervisors of the Township, or any officer or employee
of the Township designated thereby for the purpose, is hereby authorized
to give notice of a violation of the provisions of this chapter in
any one of the following ways:
(1) By personal delivery of the notice to the owner, tenant, or lessee
of the premises;
(2) By leaving the notice with an adult upon the premises;
(3) By attaching a copy of the notice to the door at the entrance of
the premises in violation; or
(4) By mailing, by certified mail, the notice to the last known address
of the owner of the premises.
B. The notice shall direct and require such owner or occupant of the
premises to take such action as is necessary to conform to the requirements
of this chapter within 10 days after issuance of the notice. In case
any person to whom the notice is directed neglects, fails or refuses
to comply with the notice within such period of time, the Township
authorities may remove, trim or cut such weeds, and the costs thereof
may be collected by the Township from such person in any manner provided
by law.
[Amended 4-26-1982 by Ord. No. 174; 8-13-2007 by Ord. No. 640]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate
any provision of this chapter, upon conviction thereof in an action
brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided
for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules
of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more
than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and
costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that
a violation of this chapter continues or each section of this chapter
which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate
offense.