[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Village of Ridgefield Park 1-8-1985 by Ord. No. 1-85 (Ch. 201, Art. I, of the 1985 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Waterfront Ordinance."
A. 
When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, and words used in the singular shall include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
B. 
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this subsection:
DEBRIS
Any loose material not attached to the land or to any structure and which is capable of becoming drift.
DIRECTOR
The Construction Code Official of the Village of Ridgefield Park or such other person as may be appointed by the Board of Commissioners in accordance with the commission form of government.
DRIFT
Any floatable material which may cause damage to vessels or craft.
FINAL ORDER
Either the order of the Director after the time to request a review thereof has lapsed or the order of the Director issued as a result of the review requested in § 385-7.
NAVIGABLE WATERS
The waterways which are capable of carrying interstate commerce and the tributaries thereto within the geographical limits of the Village.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
PREMISES
The land, building, wharf, pier, dolphin, boom, weir, breakdown, bulkhead, jetty or other structure and shall include all or any as may be necessary.
VILLAGE
The Village of Ridgefield Park.
WATERFRONT, SHORE or BANK
That portion of the land which borders navigable waters and which lies shoreward of the established harbor lines or low-water mark within the corporate limits of the Village.
The general purpose of this chapter is the elimination of sources of drift and debris which constitute possible obstacles or hazards to existing navigation on the navigable waters of this Village by the removal and disposal of debris and deteriorated structures on the shores of such waters and liable to be washed into such waters.
Whenever the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that debris placed or deposited on the banks of any navigable water is liable to be washed into such navigable water by any cause whatsoever and thereby be or become a source of drift likely to hinder, impede or otherwise obstruct navigation, or that the condition of any wharf, pier, dolphin, boom, weir, breakdown, bulkhead, jetty or other structure on or bordering on the shores of any navigable water is so dilapidated and deteriorated as to be or become a source of drift or debris liable to be washed into such navigable waters by any cause whatsoever and thereby likely to hinder, impede or otherwise obstruct navigation, the Director may declare the same to be a public nuisance and thereupon order that the same be removed, abated, altered or repaired as such order may specify.
The order of the Director issued pursuant to § 385-4 of this chapter shall be in writing, directed to the occupant and last known owner of record, if not such occupant, of the premises which are the subject of the complaint, and shall specify whether the condition complained of shall be removed, abated, altered or repaired.
The order of the Director issued pursuant to § 385-4 shall be served upon the occupant and the last known owner of record, if not such occupant, of the premises which are the subject of the complaint either by personally delivering a copy of such order to such occupant and last known owner of record or by registered mail addressed to such persons at their last known address.
Within 15 days after service of the order the Director issued pursuant to § 385-6 or, under emergency, within such shorter time as the Director may prescribe, the person to whom such order is directed, or any person aggrieved thereby, may appeal to the Director to review the same. The Director or his agent after such review, at which all interested parties shall be afforded the opportunity to be heard, may affirm, modify or reverse the order of the Director as the facts may warrant. Unless the same is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be arbitrary, capricious or not supported by substantial evidence, the order of the Director, after review thereof, shall be final and conclusive.
In the event that the persons to whom the order of the Director is directed fail or refuse to comply with the terms of such order within 30 days after such order has become final, the Director shall, without further notice to any person, take or cause to be taken the necessary action to remove, abate, alter or repair the nuisance as specified in the order of the Director. The costs and expenses incident thereto shall be a personal charge against the occupant and last owner of record, if not such occupant, of the premises affected and all appurtenances thereto.
No person shall abandon any flat-bottomed boat, barge, scow, raft or vessel upon any public land or waterway to or upon any private property within the Village without the prior written permission of the Director of the Department of Public Works, who is hereby designated by the Village Board of Commissioners to perform this function.
The owner of any occupied or unoccupied barge which is to be docked in or on the banks of any river or navigable waterway within the Village for more than 10 consecutive days shall post a surety bond in the amount of $25,000 with the Village Clerk and in favor of the Village, said bond being issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State of New Jersey.
In the event that a barge bonded in accordance with the preceding section sinks or otherwise becomes unable to navigate under its own power, the bond so posted shall be forfeited to the Village to aid in the removal of such barge from any river, riverbank or navigable waterway within the Village.
The surety on a bond issued pursuant to the above shall have the right to immediately cancel such bond upon the removal of the barge from the rivers and riverbanks of the Village.
This chapter shall not apply to barges, ships or boats owned or operated by common carriers engaged in interstate or foreign commerce, nor shall it apply to pleasure craft used on a seasonal basis.
Any person who violates this chapter by abandoning any flat-bottomed boat, barge, scow or raft without permission shall be subject to the penalties prescribed by Chapter 264 of Public Laws 1969 (N.J.S.A. 12:7C-1 et seq.), as amended and supplemented.