Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer determines that there are reasonable
grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of this
chapter or of the other applicable codes and ordinances or of any rules and
regulations adopted pursuant thereto, he shall proceed as follows:
A.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall serve notice, in writing,
of the alleged violation, which shall be signed by the Code Enforcement Officer
or his authorized representative.
(1)
Said notice shall be served personally to the responsible
owner, occupant, operator or other person in charge, or served by registered
mail with a return receipt requested; or, where such responsible person in
charge cannot be found, service may be made by posting a notice in or about
the structure or premises, or by publishing such notice in a newspaper of
general circulation for a period of three consecutive days, or served by any
other method authorized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(2)
Said notice shall include a statement of the reasons
why the notice is being issued, the sections of the code and/or ordinances
which have been violated and the remedial actions required.
(3)
Said notice shall allow a reasonable time, not to exceed
60 days, for the initiation and correction of the violation alleged or of
the remedial actions required, except where emergency conditions exist which
require immediate corrective action.
(4)
Said notice shall contain a statement indicating that
the notice will become an order if no request and approval for an extension
of time is made to the Code Enforcement Officer or if no petition for an appeal
or hearing is requested before the Code Hearing Board within 15 days from
the receipt of said notice.
B.
The Code Enforcement Officer may grant a request for
a reasonable extension of time where he has evidence to believe that the responsible
person is attempting to remove the alleged violation. However, no such extension
of time may exceed a period of 90 days, unless authorized by the Code Hearing
Board upon appeal of the responsible owner, operator, occupant or other person
in charge.
A.
Any person who fails to correct a violation or institute
a remedial action as ordered by the Code Enforcement Officer or who violates
a provision or fails to comply with any requirements of this chapter or of
any of the other applicable codes or ordinances shall be subject, for each
violation, to a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $300 and costs of
prosecution and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to imprisonment
not exceeding 30 days, and each day's failure to comply with any such
provision or requirement or any such order shall constitute a separate offense.
B.
The imposition of the penalties herein prescribed shall
not preclude the Solicitor representing the municipality from initiating,
and he is hereby ordered to initiate, appropriate actions or proceedings in
law or in equity to effect the purposes of this chapter.
