This chapter shall be known as and may be cited
as the "New Freedom Borough Dangerous Buildings Ordinance."
This chapter shall apply uniformly to all persons,
business organizations, nonprofit organizations and all other legal
entities, and it shall apply uniformly to all property and property
owners within the Borough of New Freedom.
Whenever it is reported or comes to the attention
of any Borough official or police officer or Fire Chief that any building
or structure completed or in the process of construction or any portion
thereof is in a dangerous condition, such information shall be given
to the Codes Enforcement Officer designated by Borough Council to
make an investigation and examine the building or structure reported.
If the Codes Enforcement Officer making the investigation believes
that the structure is a dangerous building, then a written report
of the investigation specifying the condition of the structure and
in what respect it is dangerous shall be made and copied to Borough
Manager/Administrator. The report may recommend whether the building
can be repaired or whether it shall be removed as a dangerous building.
The following standards shall be followed in
substance by the Codes Enforcement Officer in ordering repair, vacation
or demolition of a dangerous building:
A. If the dangerous building can be repaired as determined
by the Codes Enforcement Officer so that it will no longer exist in
violation of the terms of this chapter, it shall be ordered repaired.
B. If the dangerous building is in such condition as
to make it dangerous to the health, morals, safety, or general welfare
of its occupants, it shall be ordered to be vacated.
C. If the dangerous building cannot be reasonably repaired
as determined by the Codes Enforcement Officer, it shall be demolished.
D. If the dangerous building is a fire hazard or is existing
or erected in violation of the terms of this chapter and any other
ordinance of the Borough or any statute of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
it shall be demolished.
In cases where it reasonably appears that there exists an immediate danger to life or safety of any person caused or created by a dangerous building, the Council shall cause the immediate repair, vacation or demolition of such dangerous building; the costs of such emergency repair, vacation or demolition of such dangerous building shall be collected as provided for in §
87-9B of this chapter.
In the event of any legislation by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
becoming effective dealing with the same or similar subject matter
as that included herein, such shall remain in full force and effect
if it is more restrictive and not inconsistent with such legislation,
but if such legislation is more restrictive than, inconsistent with,
or both, then this chapter shall be interpreted according to such
legislation and shall be superseded to the extent necessary to give
such legislation appropriate effect. However, all the remainder of
this chapter shall be and shall remain in full force and effect, and
for this purpose the provisions of this chapter are hereby declared
to be severable.