[Amended 6-24-1996 by L.L. No. 5-1996]
A. Removal or repair.
(1) Any building or structure that may be or shall at
any time hereafter become dangerous or unsafe, structurally or as
a fire hazard, shall, unless made safe and secure, be taken down and
removed when and as ordered by the Building Inspector. A vacant building
unguarded or open at door or window shall be deemed dangerous or unsafe
as a fire hazard within the meaning of this section.
(2) A building or structure damaged by fire, explosion,
collision, act of God or act of public enemy may, pursuant to a permit
issued within three months after such event, be reconstructed as it
previously existed, and a building or structure declared unsafe by
duly constituted authority may be restored to safe condition, provided
that if the damage or cost of reconstruction or restoration is in
excess of 50% of the value of the building or structure if reconstructed
or restored, it shall be made to conform to the requirements for new
buildings and structures as to materials and forms of construction.
(3) Any building or structure or premises that may be
or shall at any time fall into a state of disrepair shall be repaired
as may be directed by the Building Inspector. In the event that the
owner or occupant of such property shall not comply with such direction,
the Board of Trustees, after reasonable notice to the property owner
and occupant and an opportunity for them to be heard, may direct that
such work as may reasonably be required to comply with such direction
be performed at the expense of the property owner.
B. Emergency work. Where, in the opinion of the Building
Inspector, there is actual immediate danger of the collapse or falling
of a building or structure so as to endanger life or property, the
Building Inspector may direct or cause the necessary work to be done,
at the expense of the owner, to render such building or structure
temporarily safe, whether or not steps to abate the unsafe conditions
have been instituted.
C. Vacating buildings and closing streets. When a building
or structure is in an unsafe condition so that life is endangered
thereby, the Building Inspector may order and require the occupants
to vacate the same forthwith. When necessary for public safety, the
Building Inspector may temporarily close sidewalks, streets, buildings,
structures and places adjacent thereto and prohibit the same from
being used. Any Chief of Police, police officer, and any Fire Chief,
when called upon by the Building Inspector to cooperate, shall assist
in the enforcement of such orders or requirements.
D. Contractors, laborers and materials. For the purposes
of this chapter, the Building Inspector may employ such contractors
and/or laborers and purchase such supplies as may be necessary to
perform said work as speedily as practicable, provided that the same
complies with all applicable legal requirements.
E. Recovery of costs. Wherever it is provided in this
chapter that work may be done at the expense of the owner of property,
such costs may be recovered by assessment of a lien upon such property
in the same manner as provided for real property taxes levied by the
Village, or by action instituted by the Village Attorney, on behalf
of the Village, against the owner of such premises.