Title 73, TOWNSHIPS

(a) Payment.-- (1) Expenses incurred in the maintenance and operation of parks, recreation areas and facilities under this chapter shall be payable from the treasury of the township or from the treasury of the applicable political subdivisions pursuant to an intergovernmental coo…

(a) Authority.--A township may join or establish, with other municipalities, a joint recreation board under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 23 Subch. A (relating to intergovernmental cooperation). The joint recreation board may acquire property for and operate and maintain parks, public recreatio…

A township may incur indebtedness and may issue general obligation bonds for the purpose of acquiring land, buildings and equipment for parks and recreation areas under 53 Pa.C.S. Pt. VII Subpt. B (relating to indebtedness and borrowing).

(a) Ordinance.--A township may, by ordinance, establish a shade tree commission. (b) No ordinance.--If there is no ordinance under subsection (a), the board of commissioners shall have the powers and duties of a shade tree commission under this chapter. Cross References. Section …

(a) Scope.--This section applies to a shade tree commission established under section 7311(a) (relating to right of establishment). (b) Composition.--The board of commissioners shall appoint three or five shade tree commissioners. Each shade tree commissioner must be a resident o…

If a township has a commission for the care of public parks, the board of commissioners may, by ordinance, confer on that commission the powers and duties of the shade tree commission.

Except as provided in section 5524 (relating to trees and shrubbery within right-of-way), the shade tree commission: (1) has exclusive custody and control of the shade trees in the township; and (2) may plant, remove, maintain and protect shade trees on the public streets and hig…

(a) Employees.--The shade tree commission may, with the approval of the board of commissioners, select, employ and discharge and pay individuals to perform the functions of the shade tree commission. (b) Regulations.-- (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the commission may promulgate a…

(a) Requirement.--The shade tree commission shall annually report to the board of commissioners the shade tree commission's transactions and expenses for the preceding fiscal year of the township. (b) Incorporation.--The park commission may incorporate the transactions and expens…

(a) Requirement.--If a shade tree commission proposes to plant, transplant or remove shade trees on a street or highway, notice of the time and place of the meeting at which the work is to be considered must be given once in one newspaper of general circulation immediately preced…

(a) Payment--The owner of the real estate abutting the location of the planting, transplanting or removal of a shade tree shall pay the cost of: (1) the work; (2) necessary and suitable guards, curbing or grading for protection of the shade trees; and (3) replacing pavement or si…

(a) Owners.--The shade tree commission may, by regulation and upon notice required by an ordinance, order a property owner to cut and remove trees afflicted with a disease which threatens to injure or destroy shade trees in the township. (b) Commission.--If an owner does not comp…

(a) Responsibility.--The township shall pay: (1) the cost and expense of caring for shade trees after planting; and (2) the expense of publishing the notice under sections 7317 (relating to notice of work) and 7318 (relating to payment by owners and assessment). (b) Certification…

(a) Authority.--As provided by ordinance, a shade tree commission may assess penalties for the violation of the shade tree commission's regulations and this chapter relating to shade trees. (b) Effect.--A penalty under subsection (a): (1) is a lien upon the real estate of the off…

A township has the following powers: (1) To acquire, by purchase, gift or lease, a tract of land covered with forest or tree growth or suitable for the growth of trees for the benefit of the township. A tract under this paragraph may be located within or outside the township. (2)…

If the board of commissioners deems it expedient to acquire land for forests, it shall pass an ordinance describing the facts and conditions relating to the proposed action.

Money necessary for the purchase of a tract shall be appropriated in the same manner as appropriations for township purposes. Money may be provided from the current revenue or by the proceeds of a sale of general obligation bonds.

Upon acquisition of a forest or land suitable for a forest, the board of commissioners may promulgate regulations governing the proper administration of the acquired forestry as necessary to produce continuing township revenue by the sale of forest products. The regulations may p…

Money necessary for the administration, maintenance, protection and development of forests shall be appropriated and applied for township purposes. The revenue and the return on the revenue arising from the forests shall be paid into the township treasury to be used for general t…

A township forest may be used by the public as general outing or recreation grounds subject to the regulations under section 7334 (relating to regulations).

(a) Determination.--If the board of commissioners deems it expedient to sell or lease a township forest, a part of a township forest or a product from a township forest, the board of commissioners shall pass an ordinance specifying the facts and conditions relating to the propose…

The board of commissioners may appropriate money from the township treasury: (1) to a forest protection association cooperating in forest work with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; or (2) to be expended in direct cooperation with the department in forest work…

(a) Payment.--A penalty or assessment under this chapter shall be paid to the township treasurer. (b) Use.--The township treasurer shall keep penalties and assessments in a separate fund and utilized only for the purposes authorized by this chapter.