Unsafe buildings pose a threat to life and property in the Village of
Chittenango. Buildings and structures may become unsafe by reason of damage
by fire, the elements, age or general deterioration. Vacant buildings not
properly secured at doorways and windows also serve as an attractive nuisance
for young children who may be injured therein, as well as a point of congregation
by vagrants and transients. A dilapidated building may also serve as a place
of rodent infestation, thereby creating a health menace to the community.
Debris, rubble or parts of buildings left on the ground and not removed constitute
a dangerous, unhealthy and unsightly condition. It is the purpose of this
chapter to provide for the safety, health, protection and general welfare
of persons and property in the Village of Chittenango by requiring such unsafe
buildings to be repaired or demolished and removed.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
BUILDING
Any building, structure or portion thereof used for residential,
business, industrial, recreational or other purpose.
BUILDING INSPECTOR
The Building Inspector of the Village of Chittenango or such other
person appointed by the Board of Trustees to enforce the provisions of this
chapter.
PORTION OF BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
Any debris, rubble or parts of buildings which remain on the ground
or on the premises after demolition, reconstruction, fire or other casualty.
UNSAFE BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
Any building or structure or portion thereof which:
A.
Because of its structural condition, is or may become dangerous or unsafe
to the public.
B.
Is open at the doorways or windows or walls, making it accessible to
and an object of attraction to minors under 18 years of age as well as to
vagrants and other trespassers.
C.
Is or may become a place of rodent infestation.
D.
Consists of debris, rubble or parts of buildings left on the ground
after demolition, reconstruction, fire or other casualty.
E.
Presents any other danger to the health, safety, morals and general
welfare of the public.
It shall be unlawful for any owner, tenant or occupant of any building or structure or portion of any building or structure in the Village of Chittenango to maintain such building or structure or portion of such building or structure in any condition or manner which shall be unsafe as defined in §
59-2 of this chapter.
When, in the opinion of the Building Inspector, any building or structure located in the Village of Chittenango shall be deemed to be dangerous or unsafe to the public as defined in §
59-2, the Building Inspector shall make a formal inspection thereof and report in writing to the Board of Trustees his findings and recommendations in regard to the building's or structure's removal or repair.
The Board of Trustees shall thereupon consider said report, and if it
finds that such building or structure is dangerous and unsafe to the public,
it shall, by resolution, order its repair if the same can be safely repaired,
and if not, its removal and demolition, and shall further order that a hearing
be held before the Board of Trustees at a time and place therein specified
and on at least five days' notice to the owner of the building or structure
or persons having an interest therein to determine whether said order to repair
or remove shall be affirmed or modified or vacated and, in the event of modification
or affirmance, to assess all costs and expenses incurred by the village in
the repair or removal of such building or structure against the land on which
said building or structure is located.
The notice shall contain the following statements:
A. The name of the owner or person in possession as appears
from the tax and deed records.
B. A brief description of the premises and its location.
C. A description of the building or structure which is unsafe
or dangerous and a statement of the particulars in which it is unsafe or dangerous.
D. An order requiring the same to be made safe and secure
or to be removed.
E. That the securing or removal of said building or structure
shall commence within a specified number of days of the service of the notice
and shall be completed within a specified number of days thereafter.
F. The time and place of the hearing to be held before the
Board of Trustees, at which hearing the owner or occupant shall have the right
to contest the order and findings of the Board of Trustees.
G. That in the event that such owner, occupant or other
person having an interest in said premises shall fail to contest such order
and fail to comply with the same, the Board of Trustees will order the repair
or removal of such building or structure by the village, and that the village
will assess all costs and expenses incurred in such removal against the land
on which such building or structure is located.
H. That in any case where a building which is required to
be made safe and secure under this chapter is made safe by the boarding up
thereof, the material used for such boarding shall be painted, as near as
practicable, the same color as the building.
The Board of Trustees shall conduct the public hearing at the time and
place specified in the notice to repair or demolish. It may adjourn the hearing
from time to time until all interested parties are heard and until the hearing
is completed. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Board of Trustees shall
determine by resolution to revoke the order to repair or remove, modify said
order or continue and affirm said order and direct the owner or other persons
to complete the work within the time specified in the order or such other
time as shall be determined by the Board of Trustees.
In the event of the refusal, failure or neglect of the owner or person
so notified to comply with said order of the Board of Trustees within the
time specified in said order and after the public hearing, the Board of Trustees
shall provide that such building or structure be made safe and secure or removed
and demolished by village employees or by independent contractors. Except
in emergency cases as herein provided, any contract for repair or demolishing
and removal of a building or structure in excess of $5,000 shall be awarded
through competitive bidding.
All expenses incurred by the village in connection with the proceedings
to repair and secure or demolish and remove the unsafe building, including
the cost of actually removing such building, shall be assessed against the
land on which such building is located and shall be levied and collected in
the same manner as provided in Article 5 of the Village Law for the levy and
collection of real property taxes.
Where it reasonably appears that there is present a clear and imminent danger to the life, safety or health of any person or property unless an unsafe building or structure is immediately repaired and secured or demolished, the Board of Trustees may, by resolution, authorize the Building Inspector to immediately cause the repair or demolition of such unsafe building or structure. The expenses of such repair or demolition shall be a charge against the land on which it is located and shall be assessed, levied and collected as provided in §
59-10 hereof.
The Board of Trustees, in its discretion, may elect to apply to the
Supreme Court of the State of New York for an order directing that the building
be repaired and secured or demolished and removed.
The Board of Trustees may commence a special proceeding pursuant to
§ 78-b of the General Municipal Law to collect the costs of demolition,
including reasonable and necessary legal expenses.