[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Upper Chichester as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-11-1994 by Ord. No. 533 (Ch. 7, Part 6, of the
1987 Code of Ordinances)]
A.
In order to preserve, protect and maintain the Township's health,
safety, general welfare and ambience and, further, in order to prevent
blight, buildings damaged by an act of God or fire which has damaged
windows, doors or other portals must immediately be protected by boarding
for a period of time not in excess of 30 calendar days, upon approval
of the Code Enforcement Officer. At the expiration of said period
of time, the window, door or other portal must be completely restored
with an appropriate functioning door or window.
B.
In all other instances where windows, doors or other portals have
been subject to damage or destruction, immediate temporary covering
or boarding will only be permitted for a period of time not in excess
of five working days, upon approval of the Code Enforcement Officer.
At the expiration of said period of time, the window, door or other
portal shall be restored with an appropriate functioning door or window.
C.
In no event shall windows, doors and portals be boarded on any property
without first obtaining permission from the Code Enforcement Officer.
D.
The Code Enforcement Officer in his discretion may extend the permitted
period of time where it can be determined that uncontrollable circumstances
warrant said extension.
E.
The owner of a vacated building, regardless of why the building is
vacated, shall take such steps and perform such acts as may be required
of him from time to time to ensure that the building and its adjoining
yards remain safe and secure and do not present a hazard to adjoining
property or to the public.
Windows, doors and portals are to be sealed or closed, to prevent
unauthorized entry, in the following manner:
A.
Every opening with the exception of the entry door shall be sealed
with five-eighths-inch plywood overlapping the casing of the exterior.
B.
Each piece of plywood shall have two two-by-fours nailed on each
side with tenpenny clinched nailing and fastened to the building with
two five-eighths-inch or four three-eighths-inch carriage bolts fastened
through two-by-fours overlapping the casing on the interior.
C.
The entrance door shall be sealed in the same manner, except that
the door must have attached to it a hasp with padlock for which the
key shall be available to all appropriate Township officials for inspection
purposes.
D.
Each opening shall be painted with two coats of exterior paint of
a color to match or blend with the existing exterior color of the
building.
If the owner fails to comply with an order to seal a building,
the Code Enforcement Officer may cause such building to be sealed,
and all costs that are incurred by this action will be placed as a
municipal lien against the real property upon which such costs were
incurred.
A.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of
this article or any order promulgated hereunder shall, after summons
issued under the terms hereof, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced
to pay a fine of not more than $1,000, together with the costs of
prosecution, and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, shall
be subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days.[1]
B.
Each violation of any of the provisions of this article and each
day that such violation shall continue shall be deemed to be a separate
and distinct offense.
