[HISTORY: Adopted by the Clarkson Town Board 5-11-1982 by L.L. No. 2-1982. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Electrical inspections — See Ch. 62.
Fire prevention and building construction — See Ch. 72.
Flood damage prevention — See Ch. 76.
Mobile homes and trailers — See Ch. 94.
Zoning — See Ch. 140.
Unsafe buildings and structures pose a threat to life and property in the Town of Clarkson. Buildings and structures may become unsafe by reason of damage by fire, the elements, age or general deterioration. Vacant buildings not properly secured at doorways and windows also serve as an attractive nuisance for young children who may be injured therein, as well as a point of congregation by vagrants and transients. A dilapidated building may also serve as a place of rodent infestation, thereby creating a health menace to the community. It is the purpose of this chapter to provide for the safety, health, protection and general welfare of persons and property in the Town of Clarkson by requiring such unsafe buildings to be repaired or demolished and removed.
This chapter shall be known as the "Unsafe Building Law of the Town of Clarkson."
A. 
The following rules of construction of language shall apply to the text of this chapter:
(1) 
The word "shall" is always mandatory; the word "may" is always permissive.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 16-3A(2), which dealt with uses of the word "building" and which immediately followed this subsection, was deleted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
(2) 
A "building" or "structure" includes any part thereof.
(3) 
"Repair" is to restore or correct in order to make safe.
B. 
This chapter shall be interpreted in such a way wherever possible so that the meanings of the words and phrases and sections herein shall make them valid and legal in their effect.
Whenever the requirements of this chapter are at variance with the requirements of other lawfully adopted rules, regulations or ordinances or this chapter itself, the most restrictive provisions or those imposing the highest standards shall govern.
The following words or phrases, as used in this chapter, are defined as follows:
BUILDING
Any structure having a roof and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of persons, animals or chattel.
BUILDING INSPECTOR
The Building Inspector of the Town of Clarkson, or such other person appointed by the Town Board to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
PREMISES
A lot, plot or parcel of land, including the buildings or structures thereon.
STRUCTURE
A building or anything constructed, erected or placed above or below ground, other than a walk, driveway and plant life, which requires temporary or permanent location on or the support of the soil or which is attached to any structure.
When, in the Building Inspector's opinion or upon receipt of information that a building is or may become dangerous or unsafe to the general public; is open at the doorways and windows making it accessible to and an object of attraction to minors under 18 years of age, as well as to vagrants and other trespassers; is or may become a place of rodent infestation; presents any other danger to the health, safety and general welfare of the public; or is unfit for the purposes for which it may lawfully be used, the Building Inspector shall cause or make an inspection thereof and report, in writing, to the Town Board his findings and recommendations in regard to its securing, repair or demolition and removal.
The Town Board shall thereafter consider such report and by resolution determine, if, in its opinion, the report so warrants, that such building is unsafe and dangerous and order its securing and repair if the same can be safely repaired or its demolition and removal and further order that a notice be served upon the persons and in the manner provided herein. The Town Board may, at its discretion, appoint a licensed architect, a builder or a professional engineer to assist it in its determination. Such person or persons shall be paid reasonable compensation as shall be fixed by the Town Board.
The notice shall contain the following:
A. 
A description of the premises, including the street number and tax account number.
B. 
A statement of the particulars in which the building is unsafe or dangerous.
C. 
An order outlining the manner in which the building is to be made safe and secure or demolished and removed.
D. 
A statement that the securing or removal of such building shall commence within 30 days of the service of the notice and shall be completed within 60 days thereafter unless, for good cause shown, such time shall be extended.
E. 
A date, time and place for a hearing before the Town Board in relation to such dangerous or unsafe building, which hearing shall be scheduled not less than five business days from the date of service of the notice.
F. 
A statement that, in the event of neglect or refusal to comply with the order to secure, repair or demolish and remove the building, the Town Board is authorized to provide for its demolition and removal, to assess all expenses thereof against the land on which it is located and to institute a special proceeding to collect the costs of demolition, including legal expenses.
A. 
By personal service of a copy thereof upon the owner, executor, administrator, agent, lessee or any person having a vested or contingent interest in such unsafe building as shown by the records of the Receiver of Taxes or of the County Clerk or, if no such person can be reasonably found, by mailing to such owner, by registered mail, a copy of such notice directed to his last known address as shown by the above records;
B. 
By personal service of a copy of such notice upon any adult person residing in or occupying said premises if such person can be reasonably found; and
C. 
By securely affixing a copy of such notice upon the unsafe building.
A copy of the notice served as provided herein shall be filed in the office of the County Clerk of the County of Monroe.
In the event of refusal or neglect of the person so notified to comply with said order of the Town Board and after the hearing, the Town Board shall provide for the securing or the demolition and removal of such building or structure either by Town employees or by contract. Except in emergency as provided in § 48-13 of this chapter, any contract for demolition and removal of a building in excess of $5,000 shall be awarded through competitive bidding.
All expenses incurred by the Town in connection with the proceedings to repair and secure or demolish and remove the unsafe building, including the cost of actually removing such building, shall be assessed against the land on which such building is located and shall be levied and collected in the same manner as provided in Article 15 of the Town Law for the levy and collection of a special ad valorem levy.
Where it reasonably appears that there is present a clear and imminent danger to the life, safety or health of any person or property, unless an unsafe building is immediately repaired and secured or demolished, the Town Board may, by resolution, authorize the Building Inspector to immediately cause the repair or demolition of such unsafe building. The expenses of such repair or demolition shall be a charge against the land on which it is located and shall be assessed, levied and collected as provided in § 48-12.