The purpose of this article is to provide for the preservation
of public health, safety and welfare on a property that is in a condition
that is hazardous to the health, safety and welfare of the Township.
It is the duty of landowners and tenants to keep lands in condition
and repair that is not detrimental to the public health, safety and
welfare. This includes keeping lands free of brush, weeds, dead and
dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, filth, garbage, rubbish,
including disrepair and deterioration of property which is inimical
to the preservation of public health, safety or general welfare of
the Township, or which may become a fire hazard.
Whenever any Township inspector, construction official, or police
officer deems it necessary and expedient for the preservation of public
health, safety and welfare or the elimination of the fire hazard based
upon an investigation or a complaint from any resident, officer or
employee of the Township, the Fire Marshal, Construction Official
or police officer may issue a notice of violation to the owner, tenant
or person in possession of the property where such a condition is
found to exist. The notice of violation shall order the owner, tenant
or person in possession of the property to remove the same within
10 days of the service of the order.
In the event the owner, tenant or person in possession of lands
in question does not abate or remedy the condition complained of within
the ten-day period after receipt of the notice, the Township, through
the Business Administrator or the Business Administrator's designee,
shall serve a notice by certified and regular mail to the owner, tenant
or person in possession of the property that the cost of the abating
or remedy of the property was provided to the property owner by an
agent of the Township.
In the event that the Township is caused to abate or remedy
the condition of the property, the cost to the Township shall be certified
to the Township's Tax Collector wherein the cost shall be a lien upon
the property and lands and shall be added to and become a part of
the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon such lands, the same
to bear interest at the same rate as delinquent taxes shall be collected
and enforced by the Tax Collector in the same manner as taxes. The
cost for the abatement and remediation shall be in addition to any
penalties imposed for a violation of this section.