ORDINANCE NO. 136

 

AN ORDINANCE OF KENNETT TOWNSHIP, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AUTHORIZING THE TOWNSHIP TO DIRECT THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP TO REPAIR THE SIDEWALKS AND CURBS ABUTTING THEIR PROPERTIES AND TO PAY THE COSTS THEREOF; AND IN LIEU OF SUCH WORK AUTHORIZING THE TOWNSHIP TO REPAIR SIDEWALKS AND CURBS AND CHARGE THE COSTS PROPORTIONATELY TO ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS.

 

The Board of Supervisors of Kennett Township hereby enacts and ordains the following ordinance, which shall be known as the “Kennett Township Sidewalk and Curb Ordinance.”

 

SECTION 1. Statutory Authority.  This ordinance is enacted pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Supervisors of the Township by the Second Class Township Code to provide by ordinance for the repair of sidewalks and curbs within the Township (53 P. S. ~67401).

 

SECTION 2. Repair by Property Owner.  The Board of Supervisors may, upon examination and recommendation of the Roadmaster and/or Township Engineer, and 30 days written notice to a property owner, direct a property owner to repair a sidewalk and/or curb abutting his/her property and to pay the expense thereof.  All repairs done by a property owner or contractor shall be accomplished in accordance with the standards set forth in Section 4 of this ordinance.

 

SECTION 3.  Repair by Township.  The Board of Supervisors is hereby authorized to repair the sidewalks and curbs within the township. When any sidewalks or curbs are repaired by the Board of Supervisors under the authority of this ordinance, the expenses thereof shall be paid by all property owners abutting the repaired area in proportion to their frontage, but no owner shall be liable for the cost of repair of the sidewalk or curb in an amount greater than 5% of the assessed valuation of the abutting properties.  Any expense above the maximum liability of abutting property owners shall be paid by the Township.

 

SECTION 4.  Design Standards.  All repairs of sidewalks and curbs within the Township shall be done in accordance with the design standards established by the Kennett Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, which are incorporated herein by reference as they presently exist and as they may be amended in the future. All such work shall require a permit from and inspection by the Township to ensure compliance with the requirements of the ordinance.

 

SECTION 5.  Violations and Penalties.  If a property owner fails to pay the expenses of repair of the sidewalks or curbs for which the property owner is liable under Section 3 of this ordinance, the Board of Supervisors may file a municipal claim therefore against the property under the law for the filing and collection of municipal liens. If the property owner fails to perform the repair after notice is given in accordance with Section 2 of the ordinance, the Board of Supervisors may cause the required work to be performed and file a municipal claim against the property.  In addition, any
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person who violates or permits the violation of this ordinance, upon being found liable therefore in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Township before a district justice, shall pay a fine of not more than $600.00, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by the Township in the enforcement of this ordinance.  No judgment shall be imposed until the date of the determination of the violation by the district justice.  If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable Rules of Civil Procedure.  Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense. Further, the appropriate officer or agents of the Township are hereby authorized to seek relief, including injunction, to enforce compliance herewith.

 

ENACTED AND ORDAINED this 18th day of March 2002.

 

                                                                                    KENNETT TOWNSHIP

                                                                                    BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

ATTEST:

 

                                                                                    ___________________

                                                                                    Thomas W. Nale III

________________

Secretary

                                                                        ___________________

                                                                                    Michael E. Elling

 

 

                                                                                    ____________________

                                                                                    Charles G. Shoemaker