[Added 11-16-1995 by L.L. No. 8-1995]
A. 
Declaration of legislative findings. The Board of Trustees finds that public nuisances exist in the Village of Clyde in the operation of certain establishments and the use of property, including residential premises, in flagrant violation of the Penal Law of the State of New York, and the laws of the Village of Clyde Municipal Code, which substantially and seriously interfere with the interest of the public in the quality of life and total community environment, commerce in the Village of Clyde, property values and the public health, safety, peace, comfort or convenience and welfare. The Board of Trustees further finds that the continued occurrence of such activities and violations is detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the Village of Clyde and of the business thereof and the visitors thereto. It is the purpose of this article to authorize and empower the Village to impose sanctions and penalties for such public nuisances, and such powers may be exercised either in conjunction with or apart from, the powers contained in other laws without prejudice to the use of procedures and remedies available under such other laws. The Board of Trustees further finds that the sanctions and penalties imposed by the Village pursuant to this article constitute an additional and appropriate method of law enforcement in response to the sanctions and penalties are reasonable and necessary in order to protect the health and safety of the people of the Village and to promote the general welfare.
B. 
Public nuisance defined. For purposes of this article, a public nuisance is declared to exist where:
(1) 
Behavior in the use of or on premises which unreasonably interferes with the health, safety, peace, comfort or convenience of the general community within the past six months of such frequency or duration that the continued occupancy of the premises will presume to continue such unreasonable interference and regardless of whether or not a person has been convicted for violation of the Penal Law of the State of New York or of the Village of Clyde Municipal Code; or
(2) 
A violation of Article 220 or 221 of the Penal Law which has resulted in a criminal conviction pursuant to Article 220 or 221 of the Penal Law within the prior twenty-four-month period of time, where said conviction has been predicated on events, circumstances or activities occurring on the premises; and
(3) 
Either one of the following:
(a) 
A violation of Article 220 or 221 of the Penal Law which has resulted in a criminal conviction to Article 220 or 221 of the Penal Law within the past twenty-four-month period of time, where said conviction has been predicated on events, circumstances or activities occurring on the premises; or
(b) 
Discovery by any law enforcement agency, or duly authorized agent thereof, of a quantity and quality of drug or substance on the premises, the amount of which would subject an individual, if prosecuted, to a conviction of Article 220 or 221 of the Penal Law, which discovery has not lead to an arrest or conviction within the past twenty-four-month period of time.
C. 
Other definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BOARD
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clyde.
CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief of Police of the Village of Clyde.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The Code Enforcement Officer of the Village of Clyde or his or her designee.
CONVICTION
Shall be defined and applied in accordance with the provisions of § 1.20 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
HEARING OFFICER
The Village officer or other person designated or appointed by the Village Board, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees, to act as the Hearing Officer under this article.
MORTGAGEE
The person who is listed as the mortgagee in any unsatisfied or otherwise open mortgage recorded in the Wayne County Clerk's office.
OWNER
The person in whose name the real estate affected by the order is recorded as the owner in the office of the Wayne County Clerk.
PREMISES
The building, place, or property whereon the public nuisance is being conducted or exists.
A. 
The Code Enforcement Officer or the Chief of Police shall have the authority to order the discontinuance of any activity which constitutes a public nuisance on or in any premises within the Village.
B. 
Where the public nuisance continues after service of the order or orders to discontinue, the Code Enforcement Officer or Chief of Police may refer same to the Hearing Officer for a hearing as hereinafter provided.
C. 
The Hearing Officer, after notice of hearing and an opportunity to be heard, shall be authorized:
(1) 
To order the discontinuance of such activity at the premises where such public nuisance exists;
(2) 
To order the closing of the premises to the extent necessary to abate the nuisance or that said individual or individuals vacate the premises; or
(3) 
To determine that the alleged violations are insufficient as to warrant the issuance of an order as provided in Subsection C(1) and (2) herein.
A. 
Prior to the issuance of an order by the Hearing Officer, pursuant to this article, the Hearing Officer shall give notice and opportunity for a hearing to the owner, lessor, lessee, agent and all the persons in possession or having charge of the premises wherein the public nuisance has been or is being conducted, maintained or permitted. Such notice and opportunity to be heard shall be also given the mortgagee of the premises. Such notice shall be served upon an owner, lessor, lessee, agent and all the persons in possession or having charge of the premises pursuant to § 735 of the Real Property Actions and Proceeding Law, and upon a mortgagee by means of certified mail, return receipt requested, sent to the mortgagee's last known address, provided that any service other than delivery to the person to be served shall be complete immediately upon delivery, mailing or posting without the necessity of filing proof of service with the clerk of any court before the hearing.
B. 
Contents of notice. Such notice shall:
(1) 
Specify the activity or activities creating the nuisance;
(2) 
Provide 30 days for elimination of the nuisance;
(3) 
Inform the person to whom it is directed of his/her right to apply within 10 days for a hearing, before the Hearing Officer;
(4) 
Inform the owner/landlord that upon the expiration of 30 days after service with no hearing, or upon noncompliance with any written agreement reached at the hearing before the Hearing Officer, the Hearing Officer may issue an order, and the Code Enforcement Officer or the Chief of Police shall act to obtain compliance as provided by this article.
(5) 
Inform the owner/landlord of his/her obligation to post a copy of the notice within five days in a conspicuous place so that all persons or occupants entering the premises shall have notice that the public nuisance is being conducted, maintained, or permitted on the premises, and, that upon 30 days after service of the notice, the Code Enforcement Officer or Chief of Police shall act to obtain compliance as provided, including but not limited to the closing of the premises for a period not to exceed one year.
C. 
Lack of actual knowledge is not a defense. The lack of knowledge of, acquiescence or participation in or responsibility for a public nuisance on the part of the owner, lessor, lessee, mortgagee and all those persons in possession or having charge of as agent or otherwise, or having any interest in the premises or personal property, used in conducting or maintaining the public nuisance, shall not be a defense by such owner, lessor and lessee, mortgagee and such other persons.
D. 
Issuance of orders.
(1) 
The Code Enforcement Officer or Chief of Police shall issue the initial order provided for in this article by posting said order on the premises wherein the public nuisance is or has been occurring in violation of law and mailing a copy of said order within one business day of the posing of said order on the premises to the last known address of the owner as listed in the office of the Village Assessor or as designated by the owner.
(2) 
The Hearing Officer shall have authority to issue an order following the same procedure after the hearing has been completed.
A. 
Five business days after the issuance of a final order of the Hearing Officer pursuant to § 133-D and upon the request of the Code Enforcement Officer or the Chief of Police, officers of the Village of Clyde Police Department are authorized to act upon and enforce such orders.
B. 
Where the Hearing Officer closes premises pursuant to this article, such closing shall be for a period as the Hearing Officer may direct, but in no event shall the closing be for a period of more than one year from such issuance of the order pursuant to this article. If the owner, lessor, or lessee shall file a bond in the amount determined by the Hearing Officer, but which may not exceed the value of the premises ordered to be closed, and submit proof satisfactory to the Hearing Officer that the nuisance has been abated and will not be created, maintained or permitted during such period of time as the premises have been directed to be closed by the order of the Hearing Officer, then the Hearing Officer may vacate the provisions of the order that direct the closing of the premises.
A closing directed by the Hearing Officer pursuant to this article shall not constitute an act or possession, ownership or control by the Village of the closed premises.
A. 
It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to use or occupy or to permit any other person to use or occupy any premises or portion thereof ordered closed by the Hearing Officer.
B. 
Mutilation or removal of a posted order of the Code Enforcement Officer, Chief of Police or Hearing Officer shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $250 or by imprisonment not exceeding 15 days, or both, provided such order contains therein a notice of such penalty.
C. 
Intentional disobedience or resistance to any provision of the orders issued by the Hearing Officer pursuant to this article, in addition to any other punishment prescribed by law, shall be punishable by a fine or not more than $500 or by imprisonment not to exceed six months, or both.
The Code Enforcement Officer or Chief of Police may promulgate rules and regulations to carry out and give full effect to the provision of this article.
No officers, agent or employee of the Village of Clyde, New York, shall be personally liable for any damage resulting from any official determination, order or action required or permitted in the discharge of his or her duties under this article.