Ross is considering a crack- down on those who write graffiti and on property owners who don't clean it up.

A proposed ordinance would declare graffiti on private or township property a public nuisance and require property owners to clean it up within 15 days. It also would allow the courts to sentence graffiti writers to community service that would include cleaning up their scrawls.

The measure, introduced Monday at a Ross commissioners meeting, will be the subject of a public hearing March 12.

Building inspector Dan Hankins proposed the new ordinance. The problem of unauthorized writing and drawings has gotten worse, especially in areas where the township shares a border with Bellevue and Pittsburgh, he said. The township also has faced graffiti problems in public parks, he said.

"Graffiti can be a powerful visual symbol of disorder, eroding public safety, reducing the attractive physical qualities of neighborhoods and contributing to the downward spiral of blight and decay," the ordinance states.

If illegal inscriptions are not removed from private property within 15 days, the ordinance would allow the township to remove or paint over the images. Property owners would face fines up to $250 and be required to reimburse the township for the removal costs.

The ordinance also would allow anyone convicted of writing graffiti to be assigned to perform community service devoted to graffiti removal and/or other cleanup tasks deemed appropriate by the parks and recreation director.

The commissioners also passed a resolution supporting plans by the Quail Volunteer Fire Co. to buy a new American-LaFrance aerial ladder truck.

The action does not obligate the township to pay for the vehicle, solicitor Donald Gates said. Responsibility for paying for the $500,000 truck remains with the fire company, he said.

In other business, commissioners granted James A. Peli a conditional approval to open a contracting business at 3336 Babcock Blvd. The property is in a C-2, or mixed use, zone with homes nearby.

Building inspector Dan Hankins said Mr. Peli planned to use the site for his office and did not plan to store construction equipment or building supplies there. On the advice of Mr. Gates, the commissioners included no-storage requirements as part of their approval.