[Adopted 9-26-2011 by Ord. No. 11-020]
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.