This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Unsafe
Buildings Law of the Town of Collins, New York."
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the removal or
repair of buildings in business, industrial and residential sections
that, from any cause, may now be or shall hereafter become dangerous
or unsafe to the public.
When in the opinion of the Code Enforcement Officer, who is
hereby designated as the enforcement officer of this chapter, any
building or structure located in the Town shall be deemed to be dangerous
or unsafe to the public, the Code Enforcement Officer shall make a
formal inspection thereof, and report in writing to the Town Board
his or her findings and recommendations in regard to the building's
or structure's removal or repair.
In the event the owner and persons in interest shall fail to
comply with the final order of the Town Board to make such building
safe and secure or removed, the Town Board shall order such building
or structure to be made safe and secure or removed and assess all
the costs and expense, including the cost of actually removing such
building or structure, against the land on which such building or
structure is located at the same time and in the same manner as general
Town taxes.
In cases where it reasonably appears that there is immediate danger to the life or safety of any person unless an unsafe building as defined herein is immediately repaired, vacated or demolished, the Code Enforcement Officer shall report such facts to the Town Board, and the Town Board shall cause the immediate repair, vacation or demolition of such unsafe building. The costs of such emergency repair, vacation or demolition of such unsafe building shall be collected in the same manner as provided in §
131-8.
No officer, agent or employee of the Town of Collins shall render
himself or herself personally liable for any damage that may accrue
to persons or property as a result of any act required or permitted
in the discharge of his or her duties under this chapter. Any suit
brought against any officer, agent or employee of the Town of Collins
as a result of any act required or permitted in the discharge of his
or her duties under this chapter shall be defended by the Town Attorney
or special counsel retained by the Town until the final determination
of the proceeding therein.