[HISTORY: Adopted as indicated in article
histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-2-1958 STM, Art. 1]
Any vehicle which is left on any street or highway
so that it obstructs traffic or interferes with the maintenance of
that street or highway or the removal or plowing of snow and ice from
said street or highway may be removed from said street or highway
by direction of the Chief of Police or the Highway Surveyor to some
convenient place or a public garage
The cost of said removal and of the storage
charges, if any, shall be paid by the owner or driver of such vehicle
before such vehicle is turned over to the owner or driver.
[Adopted 3-10-1969 ATM, Art. 12]
No person or entity, corporate or otherwise,
as owner or as one in control of premises, shall keep in the open
in any area of the Town of Williamstown any junk automobile as defined
in the following section, without being licensed to do so under this
article.
For the purpose of this article, the following
terms have the meanings indicated:
One which is worn out, cast off or discarded and which is
ready for dismantling or destruction, or which has been collected
or stored for salvage, or for stripping in order to make use of parts
thereof. Any parts from such a vehicle shall be considered a junk
automobile under this article.
[Amended 5-17-2022 ATM, Art. 32]
A license to keep more than one junk automobile
may be requested by filing with the Town Clerk an application in writing
to the Select Board. The Select Board shall hold a public hearing
upon such request, notice of which shall be given by publishing in
a newspaper published or circulated in Williamstown five days at least
before the date of the hearing. The cost of publishing shall be paid
by the applicant for the license.
[Amended 5-17-2022 ATM, Art. 32]
The Select Board may grant a license for not
over one year, upon such conditions as the Board deems proper, to
keep such junk automobiles in the open, after the public hearing has
been held and the Board determines that the keeping of the same will
not depreciate property values in the area, or will not create a hazard
to the public safety, or will not become a public nuisance. Renewals
of said licenses may be granted only after the procedure set forth
above is followed.
[Amended 5-17-2022 ATM, Art. 32]
Upon the filing with the Select Board of a petition
signed by at least 10 legal residents of Williamstown asking for revocation
of any license issued under this article, the Board shall call a public
hearing to review the conduct of the licensee under said license.
If the Board determines that the operation of the licensee under said
license is such as to depreciate property values in the area, or create
a hazard to public safety, or constitute a public nuisance, the Board
may, by majority vote, revoke said license, such revocation to be
effective 30 days after the date of said vote.
The holder of a Class I, Class 2 or Class 3
license as defined in MGL C. 140, § 58, is exempt from the
provisions of this article in respect to the premises specified in
the license granted to them under § 59 of said chapter.
Any person or entity who violates this article
shall be liable to a fine of $20, and each day of violation shall
be a separate and distinct offense.
This article shall become effective months after
date of approval by the Attorney General.
