This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Code Enforcement Ordinance of the Township of Marple."
There is hereby created by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Marple a department of the Township to be known
as the "Department of Code Enforcement." Said Department shall have
the responsibility for administering and enforcing the provisions
of this chapter and of those other codes and/or ordinances of the
Township (herein referred to as the "applicable codes and ordinances"),
which designate said Department of Code Enforcement as their Official
Administration and Enforcement Agency.
There shall be appointed by the Manager and confirmed by the Board of Commissioners a Code Enforcement Officer, who, except as provided in § 8-4, shall be in charge of the Department of Code Enforcement of the Township of Marple. The Code Enforcement Officer shall supervise such other employees or assistants as shall be necessary for the administration and execution of the responsibilities of said Department, as appointed and approved by the Code Enforcement Officer. Said Code Enforcement Officer and other personnel may consist of employees directly hired and compensated by the Township.
In accordance with the Fire Prevention Code
of the Township, the Fire Marshal of the Township has been established
as the authorized representative of the Department of Code Enforcement
of the Township having all of the duties for enforcement of the Fire
Prevention Code of the Township provided for in this chapter. The
Fire Marshal shall continue to serve in this capacity until such time
as the Board declares otherwise.
The Code Enforcement Officer or other official
or employees shall not, while acting for the Township, render himself
liable personally because of any act or omission as required or permitted
in the discharge of his official duties. Any suit instituted against
the Fire Marshal, Code Enforcement Officer, official or employee,
because of any act performed by him in the lawful discharge of his
duties, shall be defended by the Township, and in no case will said
officer, official or employee be liable for costs in any action, suit
or proceeding.
An official record shall be kept of all business
and activities of the Department of Code Enforcement, and all such
records shall be open to the public for inspection at all appropriate
times, except that no individual, owner, operator, occupant or other
person shall be subject to unwarranted invasion of privacy and except
that all evidence or information obtained in the course of any inspection
shall be considered privileged information and shall be kept confidential.
Such evidence or information shall not be disclosed except as may
be necessary in the judgment of the Code Enforcement Officer for the
proper and effective administration and enforcement of the provisions
of this chapter and shall not otherwise be made public without the
consent of the owner, occupant, operator or other person in charge
of the unit, structure or premises inspected.
