[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Franklin
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Demolition delay — See Ch. 71.
[Adopted 10-20-2010 by Bylaw Amendment 10-650]
The purpose of this article is to protect the health, safety
and welfare of the Town and its residents by preventing blight, protecting
property values and neighborhood integrity, protecting the Town's
resources, avoiding the creation and maintenance of nuisances and
ensuring the safe and sanitary maintenance of all properties. Inadequately
maintained vacant buildings are at an increased risk for fire, unlawful
entry, and other public health and safety hazards. This article will
help secure the welfare of the Town's residents and neighborhoods
by requiring all property owners, as well as lenders, trustees, service
companies and management entities, to properly maintain vacant properties.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The Building Commissioner of the Town of Franklin or his
designee.
Consecutive calendar days.
A property, placed as security for a real estate loan, as
to which all rights of the mortgagor or his grantee in the property
have been terminated as a result of a default of the loan.
Within 20 miles of the property in question.
The creditor, including but not limited to service companies
and lenders under a mortgage agreement, or any successor in interest
of the mortgagee's rights, interests or obligations under the
mortgage agreement.
Every person, nongovernmental entity, service company, property
manager or real estate broker, who alone or severally with others:
Has legal or equitable title to any dwelling, dwelling unit,
or parcel of land, vacant or otherwise; or
Has care, charge or control of any dwelling, dwelling unit,
parcel of land, vacant or otherwise, in any capacity, including but
not limited to agent, executor, executrix, administrator, administratrix,
trustee or guardian of the estate of the holder of legal title; or
Is a mortgagee in possession of any such property; or
Is an agent, trustee or other person appointed by the courts
and vested with possession or control; or
Is an officer or trustee of the association of unit owners of
a condominium; each such person is bound to comply with the provisions
of these minimum standards as if he were the owner; or
Is a trustee who holds, owns or controls mortgage loans for
mortgage backed securities transactions and has initiated a foreclosure
process.
Any real property or portion thereof, located in the Town
of Franklin, which contains a building, structure, or other improvement;
excepted from this definition is any and all Town-owned property.
The Town of Franklin.
A property which is not being actively used or occupied and
which has not been actively used or occupied within the preceding
90 days. This definition shall not apply to property which is undergoing
renovations or repairs due to fire or other casualty. For purposes
of this article, "vacant" also includes abandoned and/or foreclosed
property(ies). Excepted from this definition is residential property
that is temporarily vacant due to the owner(s)' seasonal absences.
A.
All owners of vacant and/or foreclosed properties shall register
such properties with the Commissioner on a form provided by the Commissioner.
An owner shall file said registration with the Commissioner within
14 days following the occurrence of a vacancy or foreclosure, whichever
first occurs. If the owner is an out-of-state corporation, person,
or other entity, the owner shall appoint an in-state agent authorized
to accept service of process and other documents under this article.
(1)
Each registration must state the owners or agent's name, telephone
number and mailing address located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
including the name of the owner, street number, street name, city
or town, and zip code; the mailing address shall not be a post office
box.
(2)
Each registration must also certify that the property has been inspected
by the owner and must identify whether the property is vacant. Each
registration must designate a local individual or local property management
company responsible for the maintenance and security of this property.
This designation must state the individual or company's name,
direct telephone number, and local mailing address; the mailing addresses
shall not be a post office box.
B.
All property registrations pursuant to this section are valid for
one calendar year from the date when the registration is received
by the Commissioner. An annual registration fee must accompany the
registration form. Subsequent registrations and fees are due no later
than the date of the expiration of the previous registration. Subsequent
registrations must certify whether the property remains vacant and/or
remains in foreclosure, as the case may be.
C.
Any owner that has registered a property pursuant to this section
must report any change in information contained in the registration
within 10 days of the change.
D.
Once the property is no longer vacant or is sold, the owner shall
provide the Commissioner with written notice of legal occupancy or
proof of sale, as the case may be.
A.
Owners of vacant properties must fulfill the following minimum adequate
maintenance and security requirements for any such property they own:
(1)
Maintain vacant properties subject to this section in accordance
with the relevant sanitary, building, and fire codes.
(2)
Secure vacant properties subject to this section to prevent unauthorized
entry and exposure to the elements.
(3)
Maintain vacant properties subject to this section, including but
not limited to maintaining and keeping in good repair any building(s),
structure(s) and improvements, the removal of trash and debris, and
the regular mowing of lawns, pruning and/or trimming of trees and
shrubbery, and upkeep of other landscape features.
(4)
Repair or replace broken windows or doors within 30 days. Boarding
up any doors or windows is prohibited except as a temporary measure
for no longer than 30 days.
B.
Properties vacant for six months or more shall have utilities shut
off, removed, or cut and capped to prevent accidents.
C.
Compliance with this section shall not relieve the owner of any applicable
obligations set forth in any other codes, regulations, covenants,
conditions, or restrictions, and/or homeowner or condominium association
rules and regulations.
The Commissioner or his designee shall have the authority and
the duty to periodically inspect properties subject to this article
for compliance with this article and to issue citations for any violations.
The Commissioner or his designee shall have the discretion to determine
when and how such inspections are to be made, provided that such determination
is reasonably calculated to ensure that this article is enforced.
A.
In addition to any other means of enforcement available to the Commissioner,
the Commissioner may enforce this article by means of noncriminal
enforcement pursuant to M.G.L. c. Chapter 40, § 21D. In
addition to the Commissioner, the Police and Fire Chiefs and their
respective designees, the Director of Public Works and his designee,
and the Health Agent shall each have authority to enforce this article.
The following penalties are established for purposes of said noncriminal
disposition:
(1)
A failure to initially register or to reregister with the Commissioner pursuant to § 168-3: $300.
B.
The penalties provided in this section shall not be construed to
restrict the Town from pursuing other legal remedies available to
the Town. Violation of any other provision of this article shall be
subject to a fine of $300 for each violation; each day shall be considered
a separate violation.
A.
Appeals. Any persons aggrieved by the requirements of this article
or by a decision issued hereunder may seek relief in any court of
competent jurisdiction as provided by the laws of the commonwealth.
B.
Applicability. If any provisions of this article impose greater restrictions
or obligations than those imposed by any general law, special law,
regulation, rule, ordinance, order or policy, then the provisions
of this article shall control.
C.
Severability. If any provision of this article is held to be invalid
by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provisions shall be
considered separately and apart from this article's remaining
provisions, which shall remain in full force and effect.
