[Adopted 2-2-1982 by Ord. No. 715-82 (Ch. 233 of the 1975 Code)]
A. 
The Borough of Edgewater is hereby authorized to pay any water, electric or gas bill of any landlord where such landlord has permitted the utility bill to become delinquent and service provided by the utility has been curtailed or is about to be terminated.
B. 
In such case where the Borough has been notified by the utility company that service to a multiple dwelling is about to be terminated due to the failure of the landlord to make payment thereon, the Borough may immediately notify the landlord by certified mail that, unless payment is made within the time prescribed by the utility company before service is to be terminated, the Borough may avail itself of the provisions of this article and issue a check to the utility company so as to continue service to the building.
C. 
Where utility service has already been curtailed without the Borough having received notification from the utility company of such curtailment of service, or if the Borough has been unable to notify the landlord after having made a bona fide effort to do so, the Borough may make immediate payment in order to continue utility service without notification to the landlord.
Any utility company continuing to provide service to a multiple dwelling in accordance with § 335-7 of this article shall be paid by the Borough by issuing a voucher to the utility company providing the water, electric or gas service to the multiple dwelling for the amount due on the appropriate account and the service charge, if any. Said voucher shall be paid in the manner provided for the approval and payment of claims pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:5-17.
Any landlord whose negligence or failure to act results in municipal action as set forth in § 335-7 of this article shall be liable to a fine of not more than $300 for each affected dwelling unit in the residential property. In addition, the amount paid by the Borough, together with any incidental expenses incurred in making such payment, shall be a municipal lien against the real property upon which such expense was incurred.
The Borough shall not be liable for any damages to any person or property in enforcing the provisions of this article, and under no circumstances shall the Borough be held liable for damages resulting from the lack of water, electric or gas service to the residential property.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to owner-occupied residential rental properties containing three units or less.
Whenever the provisions of this article impose a higher standard than that set forth in any other local ordinances or under the laws of the State of New Jersey, then the standard as set forth herein shall prevail, but if the provisions of this article shall impose a lower standard than the higher standards contained in any such other ordinance or state law, then the higher standard contained in any other such ordinance or law of the State of New Jersey shall prevail.