For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall be defined
as contained herein:
OWNER
Owner, manager, managing agent, or other person, partnership or corporation
responsible for the operation of a rental unit.
RENTAL UNIT
That portion of a dwelling rented or offered for rent for living
and dwelling purposes or any lots rented for the placement of mobile homes
to an individual or family unit together with all privileges, services, furnishings,
furniture, equipment, facilities and improvements connected with the use or
occupancy of such portion of the property.
RESIDENT
Each occupant or inhabitant, over the age of 18 years, of a rental
unit, other than the owner of the rental unit, who is a permanent resident
of Hamilton Township, but excluding transient or tourist persons who have
stayed or intend to stay 30 days or less.
To enable Hamilton Township to more equitably and efficiently assess
and levy taxes on taxable residents within the said Township, each owner of
a rental unit shall report to the Secretary/Treasurer of Hamilton Township,
between January 1 and 15 of each year, the identities of all residents of
the owner's rental unit or units. The owner shall also report any and
all changes in occupancy that shall occur during the year within 30 days of
the change. The report of such residents shall be made in writing on such
forms as shall be prescribed by the Township. Should the Township fail to
prescribe or have available forms for the aforementioned reports, then such
report shall be made by the owner in writing, to the Township Secretary/Treasurer.
[Amended 12-3-1996 by Ord. No. 75]
Any owner of a rental unit who fails to make a report as hereinabove
set forth shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding
commenced by the Township before a District Justice, pay a fine of not more
than $600, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred
by the Township in the enforcement of this chapter. No judgment shall be imposed
until the date of the determination of the violation by the District Justice.
If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the Township
may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable Rules of Civil Procedure.
Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense. Further,
the appropriate officers or agents of the Township are hereby authorized to
seek equitable relief, including injunction, to enforce compliance herewith.
Hamilton Township police officers, or other appropriate officer(s) of Hamilton
Township, shall have the power to enforce the provisions of this chapter.