[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Mansfield 7-9-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-11. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
The Code of the Township of Mansfield is hereby
amended to include the following provisions intended to address and
correct exterior property maintenance deficiencies within the Township:
A.
All areas of the exterior property and premises, including
but not limited to open porches, open structures, decks and driveways,
shall be free from any accumulation of rubbish, garbage, nonfunctioning
vehicles or other nonfunctioning or unused equipment.
B.
All areas of the exterior property and premises, including but not limited to open porches, open structures, decks and driveways, shall be free from any accumulations of furniture, toys, bicycles, tires, construction supplies and equipment, landscaping supplies, empty and unused storage containers or other similar items, except as permitted by the limited exception set forth in Subsection C herein.
C.
Construction and landscaping materials and equipment
may be stored on exterior areas of the property and premises, including
open porches, open structures, decks and driveways, but only if said
materials and equipment are neatly secured or covered and so long
as said materials and equipment are removed within 90 days of the
last date work was performed on the property and premises with that
specific type of material or piece of equipment.
A.
The Chief
of Police or any member of the Police Department, Fire Chiefs or their
designee, Public Works Superintendent, Construction Official and Zoning
Officer, Engineer, or other Township official designated by the Township
Committee shall be considered the proper officers to investigate the
above-described hazards and to issue a notice of abatement to the
property owner either via hand delivery or registered mail, requiring
full remediation within 10 days. Where the owner cannot be located,
notice shall be forwarded to the last known address of the record
owner as shown on the tax records of the Township of Mansfield.
[Amended 9-28-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-18]
B.
In the
event that any owner shall refuse to comply with a notice of abatement
from the Township within 10 days from the date of service of said
notice, the offending items may be removed from said lands and discarded
under the direction and at the expense and cost of the Township. The
Township's cost shall be at least in the sum of $100 per hour for
labor and all other costs of removal shall be incorporated in a certification
and, if found correct by the Township Committee, shall be charged
against said lands and shall forthwith become a lien upon such lands
to be added to and become and form part of the taxes next to be assessed
and levied upon such lands. Said lien shall bear interest at the same
rate as taxes and shall be collected and enforced by the same officers
and in the same manner as taxes.
Any property owner who shall be found in violation of any of the provision of this chapter may, upon conviction, also be fined and punished as provided for in § 1-17 of this Code. Each day that any violation of this chapter shall continue without abatement may be deemed a separate and additional violation.
