This chapter shall be known as the "House Trailer Ordinance."
It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the inhabitants of the Town of Amherst by the more efficient regulation of house trailers and trailer camps.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
HOUSE TRAILER
Any vehicle used or occupied as sleeping or living quarters, mounted on wheels and propelled either by its own power or power-driven vehicle to which it may be attached, and includes an automobile trailer equipped with living quarters or sleeping facilities and a house car.
TRAILER CAMP
Any lot, piece or parcel of ground whereon four or more house trailers, house cars or automobile trailers equipped with sleeping or living quarters are located or parked, otherwise than for the purpose of loading, unloading or discharge or entrance of occupants or passengers.
The Building Inspector of the Town of Amherst shall enforce all of the provisions of this chapter as hereinbefore set forth with the assistance of the Health Officer and of the police officers of the Town of Amherst. It shall be the duty of such Health Officer to ascertain that the sanitary requirements hereinbefore required are complied with. Such Building Inspector, Health Officer and police officers shall have the right to enter upon such trailer camp or other premises for the parking or location of a house trailer at all times.
If the Health Officer, upon inspection, finds that such trailer camp is not being maintained in a clean and sanitary condition or that such trailer camp is not being conducted in accordance with the regulations applicable to such trailer camp and the provisions of this chapter, he shall serve upon the holder of such license or the person in charge of such trailer camp an order in writing directing that the conditions therein specified be remedied within five days after the service of such order. If, after the expiration of such period, such conditions remain unchanged or are not corrected in accordance with the order of the Health Officer, the Health Officer shall serve a notice in writing upon such trailer camp owner or the person in charge of such trailer camp requiring the holder of such license to appear before the Town Board of the Town of Amherst at a time to be specified in such notice, not less than 24 hours, and show cause why such license should not be revoked. The Town Board may, after a hearing at which the testimony and witnesses of the Health Officer and the holder of the license shall be heard, revoke the license if the conditions described in the original order have not been corrected in accordance with the terms of such order or if the holder of such license has violated the regulations applicable to such trailer camp or has violated any of the provisions of this chapter, or for other sufficient cause. Upon the revocation of such license, the premises shall forthwith cease to be used for the purpose of a trailer camp and all house trailers shall be removed therefrom.
[Amended 5-31-1966]
Every violation by any person, firm, association or corporation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to have committed an offense against this chapter, and upon conviction therefor, such person, firm, association or corporation shall be subject to a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $100 or to imprisonment for a period of not less than one day nor more than six months, or both such fine and imprisonment; and in addition, any person, firm, association or corporation which shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or who shall omit, neglect or refuse to do any act required by this chapter shall severally for each and every such violation and noncompliance respectively forfeit and pay a penalty of $50. The imposition of all penalties for any violation of this chapter shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue. The application of the above penalty or penalties or the prosecution of the violation of the provisions of this chapter shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of conditions prohibited by this chapter.
None of the provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to the sale, storage or garaging within a building or structure of a house trailer or house trailers, nor shall the same be applicable to the exhibition for sale of house trailers upon any property in the Town of Amherst, provided that the other ordinances of said Town shall be complied with.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to abrogate any of the provisions of the Sanitary Code established by the Public Health Council of the State of New York, as same now provides or as same may hereafter be amended to provide. In the event of inconsistencies existing between the provisions of this chapter and said code, said code shall govern.
If any section, paragraph, subdivision or provision of this chapter shall be invalid, such invalidity shall apply only to the section, paragraph, subdivision or provision adjudged invalid, and the rest of this chapter shall remain valid and effective.
This chapter shall take effect and be in force from and immediately after its passage, publication of notice of adoption and posting as prescribed by law, except that the operators of trailer camps located in the Town of Amherst at its effective date shall be allowed 30 days from and after such effective date within which to comply with the provisions hereof.