[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Borough of Old Tappan 5-26-1975 as Sec. 3-4 of the 1975 Code;
amended in its entirety 1-6-2014 by Ord. No. 1063-13. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
It shall be the duty of the owner, tenant or person in possession
of any lands in the borough to maintain their property so as not to
create a nuisance to the neighboring properties and to keep the lands
free of brush, weeds, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, noxious
growth, filth, garbage, trash and debris, where the same are inimical
to the preservation of public health, safety or general welfare of
the borough, or which may constitute a fire hazard. Lawns shall be
maintained so as no grass or weeds shall exceed eight inches in height.
After an investigation of any complaint of a resident, officer
or employee of the Borough relative to a violation of this chapter,
or upon his own motion, the Code Official shall make a written notice
of the conditions complained of to the property owner. If the reported
conditions are found to exist, the Code Official or designee will
notify the owner, tenant or person in possession of the lands complained
of in writing, either personally or by registered mail, to remove
such brush, weeds, dead or dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growth,
filth, garbage, trash, or other debris, within 10 days after receipt
of the notice. The Code Official shall reinspect the lands in question
after the ten-day period expires and if the conditions still exist
the Code Official will issue a summons and report in writing to the
Borough Council at its next regular meeting whether the condition
complained of has been abated or remedied.
If the owner, tenant or person in possession of the lands in
question fails to abate the condition complained of within 10 days
after receipt of notice, the Building Inspector shall cause the condition
complained of to be abated and shall certify the cost to the Borough
Council, who shall examine the certificate and if it is correct cause
the cost as shown thereon to be charged against the lands. The amount
so charged shall become a lien upon the lands and shall be added to
and become a part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon
the lands, shall bear interest at the same rate as taxes, and shall
be collected and enforced by the same officer and in the same manner
as taxes. Costs shall be in addition to any penalties imposed for
any violation of this chapter.
