[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of
the City of Lowell 8-25-1992 (§ 5-3 of the 1988 Code). Amendments
noted where applicable.]
A.
When any building or other structure shall appear
to the Building Official (Building Inspector) to be dangerous in case
of fire, because windows and doors and/or the building or structure
is otherwise open to the weather, or shall appear to be dangerous
to life and limb or otherwise unsafe, the Building Official (Building
Inspector) shall immediately notify the owner in writing (certified
mail, return receipt requested, and regular mail) and/or his agent
or mortgagee in possession of its dangerous condition, which notice
shall constitute an order to the owner and/or his agent or mortgagee
in possession to put the building in a safe and secure condition.
B.
Said written notice shall be sent to the owner or
his agent by certified mail (return receipt requested), with a copy
sent by regular postage.
Any building or structure which is ordered secured
for any reason hereunder shall be boarded in accordance with the following
specifications: all openings, including but not limited to doors and
windows from the cellar to the top floor inclusive, must be covered
from the exterior with a minimum of one-half-inch-thick plywood secured
with screws of a minimum length of 1 1/2 inches placed 12 inches
on center of spikes.
A.
If the owner or his agent or mortgagee in possession
fails to comply within 10 days, the Building Official (Building Inspector)
may cause bids to be called for by the Division of Planning and Development
to have the building properly secured, and the costs and charges of
such securing shall constitute a lien on the property under the provisions
of MGL c. 139, § 3, as amended.
B.
If such owner or mortgagee in possession fails or
refuses to make the building safe and secure within 10 days after
being so notified, said owner or mortgagee in possession shall be
punished by a fine of $100 per day for every day's continuance of
such failure or refusal after being so notified.
C.
Each day during which any portion of a violation continues
shall constitute a separate offense.
The requirements of this chapter are in addition
to and not in substitution for any and all requirements of the State
Building Code, Sections 123 and 124, or any other law or regulation
on this subject.
