This chapter shall be known as the "House Trailer Ordinance."
It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the health, safety,
morals and general welfare of the inhabitants of the Town of Amherst
by the more efficient regulation of house trailers and trailer camps.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
HOUSE TRAILER
Any vehicle used or occupied as sleeping or living quarters,
mounted on wheels and propelled either by its own power or power-driven
vehicle to which it may be attached, and includes an automobile trailer
equipped with living quarters or sleeping facilities and a house car.
TRAILER CAMP
Any lot, piece or parcel of ground whereon four or more house
trailers, house cars or automobile trailers equipped with sleeping
or living quarters are located or parked, otherwise than for the purpose
of loading, unloading or discharge or entrance of occupants or passengers.
The Building Inspector of the Town of Amherst shall enforce
all of the provisions of this chapter as hereinbefore set forth with
the assistance of the Health Officer and of the police officers of
the Town of Amherst. It shall be the duty of such Health Officer to
ascertain that the sanitary requirements hereinbefore required are
complied with. Such Building Inspector, Health Officer and police
officers shall have the right to enter upon such trailer camp or other
premises for the parking or location of a house trailer at all times.
If the Health Officer, upon inspection, finds that such trailer
camp is not being maintained in a clean and sanitary condition or
that such trailer camp is not being conducted in accordance with the
regulations applicable to such trailer camp and the provisions of
this chapter, he shall serve upon the holder of such license or the
person in charge of such trailer camp an order in writing directing
that the conditions therein specified be remedied within five days
after the service of such order. If, after the expiration of such
period, such conditions remain unchanged or are not corrected in accordance
with the order of the Health Officer, the Health Officer shall serve
a notice in writing upon such trailer camp owner or the person in
charge of such trailer camp requiring the holder of such license to
appear before the Town Board of the Town of Amherst at a time to be
specified in such notice, not less than 24 hours, and show cause why
such license should not be revoked. The Town Board may, after a hearing
at which the testimony and witnesses of the Health Officer and the
holder of the license shall be heard, revoke the license if the conditions
described in the original order have not been corrected in accordance
with the terms of such order or if the holder of such license has
violated the regulations applicable to such trailer camp or has violated
any of the provisions of this chapter, or for other sufficient cause.
Upon the revocation of such license, the premises shall forthwith
cease to be used for the purpose of a trailer camp and all house trailers
shall be removed therefrom.
[Amended 5-31-1966]
Every violation by any person, firm, association or corporation
of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to have committed
an offense against this chapter, and upon conviction therefor, such
person, firm, association or corporation shall be subject to a fine
of not less than $10 nor more than $100 or to imprisonment for a period
of not less than one day nor more than six months, or both such fine
and imprisonment; and in addition, any person, firm, association or
corporation which shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter
or who shall omit, neglect or refuse to do any act required by this
chapter shall severally for each and every such violation and noncompliance
respectively forfeit and pay a penalty of $50. The imposition of all
penalties for any violation of this chapter shall not excuse the violation
or permit it to continue. The application of the above penalty or
penalties or the prosecution of the violation of the provisions of
this chapter shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of
conditions prohibited by this chapter.
None of the provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to
the sale, storage or garaging within a building or structure of a
house trailer or house trailers, nor shall the same be applicable
to the exhibition for sale of house trailers upon any property in
the Town of Amherst, provided that the other ordinances of said Town
shall be complied with.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to abrogate any
of the provisions of the Sanitary Code established by the Public Health
Council of the State of New York, as same now provides or as same
may hereafter be amended to provide. In the event of inconsistencies
existing between the provisions of this chapter and said code, said
code shall govern.
If any section, paragraph, subdivision or provision of this
chapter shall be invalid, such invalidity shall apply only to the
section, paragraph, subdivision or provision adjudged invalid, and
the rest of this chapter shall remain valid and effective.
This chapter shall take effect and be in force from and immediately
after its passage, publication of notice of adoption and posting as
prescribed by law, except that the operators of trailer camps located
in the Town of Amherst at its effective date shall be allowed 30 days
from and after such effective date within which to comply with the
provisions hereof.