[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Medford 4-28-1971 by Ord. No. 1971-7. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 12-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-25]
It shall be unlawful for any owner or owners, occupant or occupants, tenant or tenants of any lot or tract of land situate within the limits of the Township of Medford to permit or maintain on any such lot or tract of land any brush, weeds, including ragweed, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, including bamboo and other nonnative invasive species, filth, garbage, trash and debris injurious to the public health, safety and general welfare or where the same shall tend to create a fire hazard or where the same may tend to interfere with the orderly flow of surface waters across said lands.
[Amended 8-2-1983 by Ord. No. 1983-16]
Upon the failure of any owner, owners, occupant, occupants, tenant or tenants to remove or otherwise destroy such brush, weeds, including ragweed, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, filth, garbage, trash and debris within 10 days after notice to remove the same has been received from the said Township of Medford, which notice may be effected by personal service or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, the Township of Medford shall cause the same to be removed under the direction of the Manager of said Township, and such officer shall certify the cost thereof to the governing body, which shall examine the certification and, if found correct, shall cause the cost as shown thereon to be charged against said lands; the amount so charged shall forthwith become a lien upon such lands and shall be added to and become and form part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon such lands, the same to bear interest at the same rate as taxes, and shall be collected and enforced in the same manner as taxes and by the same officer as provided in N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.14, as amended.
[Amended 8-2-1983 by Ord. No. 1983-16]
In the event of an extreme emergency, as so declared by an official proclamation by the Mayor of the Township of Medford, it shall be lawful for the Manager or his lawfully designated substitute to enter upon the private lands in the Township in order to clear ditches and swales of brush, weeds, including ragweed, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, filth, garbage, trash and debris in order to facilitate and expedite the running off of surface waters where the owner or owners, occupant or occupants, tenant or tenants have allowed or permitted said ditches or swales to be maintained in such a manner as to back up or block the passage of water in such a manner as to be deleterious to the public health, safety and general welfare.
[Amended 8-2-1983 by Ord. No. 1983-16; 12-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-25]
Any owner or owners, occupant or occupants, tenant or tenants who shall neglect to cut or remove or otherwise destroy such brush, weeds, including ragweed, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, including bamboo and other nonnative invasive species, filth, garbage, trash and debris as directed by this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.
The collection of the fine or service of the sentence imposed by this chapter shall not be construed to bar any lien of the Township of Medford to collect the cost as certified for the removal of such items as set forth herein in the manner herein authorized.