[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hackensack 4-1-1985 as Ord. No. 6-85. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The general purpose of this chapter is the elimination of sources of
drift and debris which constitute possible obstacles or hazards to existing
navigation on the navigable waters of this city, by the removal and disposal
of debris and deteriorated structures on the shores of such waters, and which
are liable to be washed into such waters.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any loose material, not attached to the land or to any structure,
which is capable of becoming drift.
The Director of the Department of Public Works, who may appoint,
with the approval of the Mayor and Council any authorized agent to act in
his behalf.
Any floatable material which may cause damage to vessels or craft.
Either the order of the Director after the time to request a review thereof has lapsed, or the order of the Director issued as a result of the review requested in § 173-5.
The waterways which are capable of carrying interstate commerce,
and the tributaries thereto, within the geographical limits of the City of
Hackensack.
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company
or organization of any kind.
The land, building, wharf, pier, dolphin, boom, weir, breakdown,
bulkhead, jetty or other structure, and shall include all or any as may be
necessary.
That portion of the land which borders navigable waters and which
lies shoreward of the established harbor lines or low water mark within the
corporate limits of the city.
Whenever the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that debris
placed or deposited on the banks of any navigable water is liable to be washed
into such navigable water by any cause whatsoever and thereby be or become
a source of drift likely to hinder, impede or otherwise obstruct navigation;
or that the condition of any wharf, pier, dolphin, boom, weir, breakdown,
bulkhead, jetty or other structure on or bordering on the shore of any navigable
water is so dilapidated and deteriorated as to be or become a source of drift
or debris liable to be washed into such navigable waters by any cause whatsoever
and thereby likely to hinder, impede or otherwise obstruct navigation, the
Director may declare the same to be a public nuisance and thereupon order
that the same be removed, abated, altered or repaired as such order may specify.
A.
The order of the Director issued pursuant to § 173-3 of this chapter shall be in writing, directed to the occupant and the last known owner of record, if not such occupant, of the premises which are the subject of the complaint, and shall specify whether the condition complained of shall be removed, abated, altered or repaired.
B.
The order of the Director issued pursuant to § 173-3 shall be served upon the occupant and the last known owner of record, if not such occupant, of the premises which are the subject of the complaint either by personally delivering a copy of such order to such occupant and last known owner of record or by registered mail, addressed to such persons at their last known address.
Within 15 days after service of the order of the Director, issued pursuant to § 173-4, or, under an emergency, within such shorter time as the Director may prescribe, the person to whom such order is directed, or any person aggrieved thereby, may appeal to the Director to review the same. The Director or his agent after such review, at which all interested parties shall be afforded the opportunity to be heard, may affirm, modify or reverse the order of the Director as the facts may warrant. Unless the same is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be arbitrary, capricious or not supported by substantial evidence, the order of the Director after review thereof shall be final and conclusive.
In the event that the persons to whom the order of the Director is directed
fail or refuse to comply with the terms of such order within 30 days after
such order has become final, the Director shall, without further notice to
any person, take or cause to be taken the necessary action to remove, abate,
alter or repair the nuisance as specified in the order of the Director. The
costs and expenses incident thereto shall be a personal charge against the
occupant and last owner of record, if not such occupant, of the premises affected
and all appurtenances thereto.
No person shall abandon any flat-bottomed boat, barge, scow, raft or
vessel upon any public land or waterway to or upon any private property within
the city without the prior written permission of the Director of Public Works,
who is hereby designated by the City Council to perform this function.
The owner of any occupied or unoccupied barge which is to be docked
in or on the banks of any river or navigable waterway within the city for
more than 10 consecutive days shall post a surety bond in the amount of $25,000
with the City Clerk and in favor of the city, said bond being issued by an
insurance company authorized to do business in the State of New Jersey.
A.
In the event that a barge, bonded in accordance with
the preceding section, sinks or otherwise becomes unable to navigate under
its own power, the bond so posted shall be forfeited to the city to aid in
the removal of such barge from any river, riverbank or navigable waterway
within the city.
B.
The surety of a bond issued pursuant to the above shall
have the right to immediately cancel such bond upon the removal of the barge
from the rivers and riverbanks of the city.
This chapter shall not apply to barges, ships or boats owned or operated
by common carriers engaged in interstate or foreign commerce, nor shall it
apply to pleasure craft used on a seasonal basis.
Any person who violates this chapter by abandoning any flat-bottomed
boat, barge, scow or raft without permission shall be subject to the penalties
prescribed by P.L. 1969, c. 264 (N.J.R.S. 12:7C-1 et seq.), as amended and
supplemented.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with this chapter
be and the same are hereby repealed.
If any section or provision or part thereof in this chapter shall be
adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality
shall not affect the validity of the chapter as a whole or any other section
or provision thereof.
This ordinance shall be effective upon passage and publication as provided
by law.
