[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Westhampton Beach 3-2-2017 by L.L. No. 2-2017. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Littering — See Ch. 103.
Peddling and soliciting — See Ch. 128.
It shall be unlawful for any person, business entity, or corporation to place, maintain or store a dropoff bin (as defined below), or to continue to maintain or store a dropoff bin, upon any property in the Village unless there is a valid permit in effect issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
APPLICANT
Any person, business entity or corporation that applies to the Village for an approval to store or place a dropoff bin upon a premises pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
BIN OWNER
The not-for-profit organization or other entity that owns the dropoff bin.
CODE
The Code of the Village of Westhampton Beach.
DROPOFF BIN
A freestanding receptacle, sometimes referred to as a "dropoff box," "collection container," "bin," "depository," "donation box," etc., which is generally metal in composition, with a depository drawer or chute, placed on any property or premises for the purpose of receiving clothing, shoes, household items and the like from the public for donation, not-for-profit, and/or charitable purposes.
PERMITTEE
Any person, business entity, or corporation that applied for and has obtained a dropoff bin permit from the Village, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
PROPERTY OWNER
Any person, agent, operator, firm or corporation having a legal or equitable interest in the property where the dropoff bin is to be located and/or shown as the owner of the property on the current assessment roll.
QUALIFIED APPLICANT
Any exempt entity as qualified under IRS Code § 501(c) or (d), which is registered as a charitable organization with the Attorney General of the State of New York, unless exempt from registration under New York State Executive Law § 172-a.
A. 
Conditions. An applicant may apply for a dropoff bin permit to place, maintain, or store a dropoff bin on premises in the Village, provided the following conditions are met:
(1) 
Only qualified applicants as defined herein will be eligible to receive a dropoff bin permit.
(2) 
Dropoff bins shall only be permitted on properties within the following zoning districts of the Village: Business District (B-1), Business District 2 (B-2), Business District 3 (B-3) and Industrial District 1.
(3) 
The area where the applicant plans to place the dropoff bin must be shown on a site plan or survey that is submitted along with the permit application.
(4) 
Dropoff bins in the B-1, B-2 and B-3 Business Districts must be located so that each is located at least 50 feet from the front property line. In no event shall a dropoff bin be placed in front of the entrance or exit of any building, or within 30 inches of any alley, walkway, or other pathway.
(5) 
The property owner, the bin owner and the permittee shall be responsible for any damage caused by a dropoff bin to any sidewalk or public property.
(6) 
The dropoff bin will not interfere with or prevent the orderly and reasonable use of adjacent properties.
(7) 
The dropoff bin will not impair the peace and comfort of adjacent properties.
(8) 
Each dropoff bin shall contain the name, principal address and telephone number of the bin owner. The lettering shall be at least two inches high.
(9) 
There shall be no stockpiling or storage of any donated items, goods, or wares outside of any dropoff bin in the Village.
(10) 
No dropoff bin shall be placed or maintained within any public way or any landscaped area, buffer area or parking space required by any approval given by the Village's Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals or Board of Trustees.
(11) 
No dropoff bin shall be placed or maintained in a location that interferes with any approved site plan with regard to traffic flow or parking areas.
(12) 
There shall be a limit of no more than two dropoff bins on any Tax Map lot.
(13) 
No dropoff bin shall cover a ground surface area greater than five feet by five feet nor be greater than six feet in height.
(14) 
The property owner, the bin owner and the permittee shall ensure that the area around the bin is monitored to ensure compliance with all conditions.
(15) 
The responsibility for compliance with this chapter is with the property owner, the bin owner and the permittee.
(16) 
The property owner, the bin owner and the permittee shall comply with New York General Business Law § 399-bbb and any other applicable laws and regulations relating to dropoff bins.
B. 
Procedures for issuance of permit. The Board of Trustees may issue a dropoff bin permit subject to the following procedures:
(1) 
An application for a permit shall be filed yearly with the Board of Trustees on a form provided for and approved by the Trustees.
(2) 
The application shall include:
(a) 
The street address and Tax Map designation (section, block, and lot or lots) of the property where the dropoff bin is to be located;
(b) 
A copy of the most recent deed and real property tax bill, confirming the ownership of record of the property where the dropoff bin is to be located;
(c) 
A site plan or a survey depicting the proposed location of the dropoff bin on the property;
(d) 
The name, permanent address and telephone number of the applicant;
(e) 
If the applicant is not the property owner, the application shall be accompanied by an affidavit, signed by the property owner, sworn to under oath, which authorizes the applicant to locate and maintain a dropoff bin upon the property. The form will also contain the property owner's name, permanent address, and telephone number;
(f) 
If the applicant is not the bin owner, the application shall also be signed by the bin owner and shall contain the bin owner's name, permanent address, and telephone number;
(g) 
A statement that the property owner may rescind consent to the location/maintenance of the dropoff bin on its property at any time;
(h) 
The written agreement and consent of the property owner, the bin owner and the permittee to the following:
[1] 
That upon revocation of the property owner's consent or the expiration or revocation of the dropoff bin permit, the dropoff bin will be removed from the property within 10 days of receiving written notice of such revocation of consent or revocation or expiration of the permit;
[2] 
That upon failure to remove the dropoff bin within such ten-day period and after an additional ten-day notice from the Village, the Village is authorized to enter onto the property and remove and dispose of the dropoff bin at the expense of the property owner and bin owner who will be jointly and severally liable therefor;
[3] 
That the Village may dispose of the bin in any manner it deems suitable; and
[4] 
That in the event the Village enters onto the property and removes the bin, the property owner, the bin owner and the permittee waive any claim for property damages or consequential damages against the Village.
(i) 
The application must be executed by and sworn to under oath by the owner or owners of the property upon which the dropoff bin is proposed to be placed;
(j) 
The applicant must submit a copy of the IRS ruling or determination letter evidencing the tax-exempt status under IRC § 501(c) or (d) and evidence of its registration as a charitable organization with the Attorney General of the State of New York, unless exempt from registration under New York State Executive Law § 172-a; and
(k) 
The fee pursuant to subsection B(10) below.
(3) 
In giving the notice contemplated by Subsection B(2)(h) above, the Village shall be entitled to rely on the addresses in the application.
(4) 
A permit for a dropoff bin shall be effective for a one-year period.
(5) 
Upon receipt of a completed application, the Board of Trustees shall forward the application to the Planning Board, the Police Department, the Department of Public Works and to any other agency or officer of the Village that the Board of Trustees deems appropriate for report and recommendation. In the event that the Board of Trustees requests additional information from the Village Engineer or any other consultant or professional, the cost thereof shall be paid by the applicant prior to any determination by the Board of Trustees.
(6) 
Before acting on any application, including any renewal, the Board of Trustees shall receive and review reports and recommendations submitted by the Planning Board, Police Department and Department of Public Works.
(7) 
A public hearing on the initial permit application shall be held by the Board of Trustees.
(8) 
The Board of Trustees may waive the requirement for a public hearing on the renewal of the permit, provided that the renewal application is the same as the original application. If the renewal application contains no changes, or only minor changes, and there have been no complaints about the dropoff bin or bins in question, the Board of Trustees may waive the requirement for a public hearing.
(9) 
The Board of Trustees may, in its sole discretion, deny the renewal of any permit based upon a violation or violations of the permit conditions occurring in the prior year or if the Board of Trustees determines that the permit is in conflict with another permit or permits issued.
(10) 
The filing fee for the permit and renewal permit shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Trustees.
(11) 
All dropoff bins in use before the effective date of this chapter must be in compliance with the requirements of this chapter within six months of the effective date of this chapter.
(12) 
An application for the renewal of a dropoff bin permit must be filed no later than 30 days prior to its expiration. The renewal application shall be signed under oath by the applicant, property owner, bin owner and permittee.
A. 
To approve the issuance of a dropoff bin permit, the Trustees must determine that the proposed location of the dropoff bin complies with all the provisions of this chapter and that the proposed location does not interfere with the flow of pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic.
B. 
A dropoff bin permit (sticker) shall be issued by the Trustees for each dropoff bin being permitted and shall contain the dropoff bin permit number and the name(s) and telephone number(s) of the permittee, the property owner and the bin owner.
C. 
The dropoff bin permit (sticker) issued shall be affixed to each and every dropoff bin used by the permittee prior to its use in the Village. With respect to dropoff bins in use before the effective date of this chapter, the permit sticker shall be affixed within seven days from the issuance of the permit. The permit sticker shall be placed on the same side of the bin as the chute used for the deposit of the clothing and/or goods.
D. 
In addition to Subsection C above, all provisions of New York State General Business Law § 399-bbb, relating to the required posting of information about the ownership of the bin and use of donated goods for not-for-profit purposes, must be complied with.
A. 
Revocation. If a violation of this chapter or any conditions hereof, including any special conditions of a permit issued hereunder, is noted by the Code Enforcement Officer, Police Department or Highway Department, they shall send a report to the Village Clerk indicating the date, time and location of said violation. The Village Clerk shall send notice to the property owner, bin owner and permittee informing them of the alleged violation. Notice of a second violation to the property owner, bin owner and permittee will cause the property owner, bin owner and permittee to be directed to appear before the Board of Trustees for a hearing and may result in revocation of the dropoff bin permit. The property owner, bin owner and permittee may provide testimony and other evidence at this hearing as to why a permit shall not be revoked. The permit shall be revoked unless the Board of Trustees finds, in its sole discretion, that adequate measures have been taken and will be taken to ensure that there is no reasonable possibility of further violations. A permit holder's failure to appear before the Board of Trustees shall automatically result in permit revocation.
B. 
Removal. Upon rescission of consent by the property owner, expiration or revocation of the dropoff bin permit, the dropoff bin must be removed from the property within 10 days. If the dropoff bin is not removed from the property, upon 10 days' additional written notice to the property owner, the bin owner and the permittee, the Village is authorized to enter onto the property and remove the dropoff bin at the expense of the property owner and bin owner, who will be jointly and severally liable therefor.
C. 
In addition to the foregoing remedy of revocation, each violation of the provisions of this chapter, including the violation of any conditions in § 77-3 or any special conditions of a permit issued hereunder, shall constitute a separate offense punishable by a minimum fine of at least $250 and not to exceed $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense. Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.