The following definitions shall be applicable in this chapter:
A RODENTPROOF CONTAINER
A container constructed of concrete or metal, or the container
shall be lined with metal or other material that is impervious to
rodents, and openings into the container such as doors shall be tight-fitting
to prevent the entrance of rodents.
HARDWARE CLOTH
Wire screening of such thickness and spacing as to afford
reasonable protection against the entrance of rodents.
OWNER or MANAGER
Whenever any person or persons shall be in actual possession
of or have charge, care or control of any property within the Village,
as executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or agent, such person
or persons shall be deemed and taken to be the owner or owners of
such property within the true intent and meaning of this chapter and
shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter to the
same extent as the owner, and notice to any such person of any order
or decision of the Building Inspector or his/her designee shall be
deemed and taken to be a good and sufficient notice, as if such person
or persons were actually the owner or owners of such property, except
that whenever an entire premises or building is occupied as a place
of business, such as a store, factory, warehouse, rooming house, junkyard,
lumberyard or any other business under a single management, the person,
firm or corporation in charge of such business shall be considered
the owner or manager.
RODENT HARBORAGE
Any place where rodents can live and nest without fear of
frequent molestation or disturbance.
RODENTPROOFING
Shall consist of closing openings in building foundations
and openings under and around doors, windows, vents and other places
which could provide means of entry for rodents, with concrete, sheet
iron, hardware cloth or other types of rodentproofing material approved
by the Village.
Whenever accumulations of rubbish, boxes, lumber, scrap metal,
car bodies or any other materials provide rodent harborage, the person,
firm or corporation owning or in control of such materials shall cause
the materials to be removed or the materials shall be stored so as
to eliminate the rodent harborage. Lumber boxes and similar materials
shall be neatly piled. These piles shall be raised at least a foot
above the ground. When the owner of the materials cannot be found
after a reasonable search, the owner or manager of the premises on
which the materials are stored shall be responsible for disposal or
proper piling of the materials.
No person, firm or corporation shall place, or allow to accumulate,
any materials that may serve as a food for rodents in a site accessible
to rodents. Any waste material that may serve as food for rodents
shall be stored in rodentproof containers. Feed for birds shall be
placed on raised platforms, or such feed shall be placed where it
is not accessible to rodents.
Whenever rodent holes, burrows or other evidence of rodent infestation
are found on any premises or in any building within the Village, it
shall be the duty of the owner or manager of such property to exterminate
the rodents or to cause the rodents to be exterminated. Within 10
days after extermination, the owner or manager shall cause all of
the rodent holes or burrows in the ground to be filled with earth
or other suitable material.
It shall be the duty of the owner or manager of any building
in the Village of Argyle to make such building reasonably rodentproof,
to replace broken basement windows and, when necessary, to cover the
basement window openings with hardware cloth or other suitable material
for preventing rodents from entering the building through such window
openings.