[Amended 8-27-2013 by Ord. No. 1313]
A. Any application, complaint or request for a hearing submitted to
the Board pursuant to any provision of this chapter shall be filed
with the Rent Control Board Secretary on the form prescribed by the
Board, as same may be amended from time to time.
B. The Board Secretary shall have 14 days from receipt of an application, complaint or request for a hearing to determine if it is complete. If the Board Secretary deems the submission complete, the matter shall be scheduled for a hearing in accordance with the provisions of Subsection
C below. If the Board Secretary determines the application, complaint or request for a hearing is incomplete, the document shall be marked "INCOMPLETE" and shall be returned to the filing party with an explanation of the reasons it was so deemed. No application, complaint or request for a hearing shall be scheduled for hearing until the Board Secretary deems it complete.
C. Scheduling hearings. An application, complaint or request for a hearing
which the Rent Control Secretary deems complete shall be scheduled
for a hearing by the Board Secretary who shall place the matter on
the agenda for the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Rent Control
Board; provided, however, that all interested parties shall be provided
no less than 21 days' notice of any hearing scheduled in accordance
with this subsection, subject to the following:
(1) In
the event the next regularly scheduled Board meeting is less than
21 days from the date an application, complaint or request for hearing
is deemed complete, the matter shall be scheduled for hearing at the
next subsequent regularly scheduled Board meeting;
(2) Notwithstanding
the above, the Board may, in its discretion and for good cause shown,
conduct a special meeting for the purpose of scheduling a hearing
on an application, complaint or request for a hearing which has been
deemed complete but for which notice cannot be delivered in the period
of time otherwise required to be scheduled for a hearing at the next
regularly scheduled meeting; and
(3) Service
upon interested parties of the notice required by this article shall
be made by ordinary mail to each party's last known address.
D. Inspection by Rent Control Officer.
(1) If a complaint, application or request for a hearing filed in accordance with this chapter includes evidence that a dwelling, part of a dwelling or the property on which the dwelling is located is in disrepair, has been neglected or that the landlord has failed to make necessary maintenance or repairs thereto, or that the general condition thereof is such as to cause concern for the general health, safety or welfare of the residents of the dwelling and/or the Township, the Board Secretary shall refer the matter to the Rent Control Officer who shall perform an inspection of said dwelling and/or premises and file a report thereon with the Board in accordance with §
189-6 of this chapter.
(2) Inspection
fees.
(a) In the event the Rent Control Officer is required to perform an inspection
as contemplated in this chapter, the landlord shall pay an inspection
fee as follows:
[3] Each additional inspection: $75.
(b) The above fees shall apply to each individual tenant complaint which results in an inspection by the Rent Control Officer. In no event, however, shall a landlord be required to pay each fee set forth in Subsection
D(2)(a)[1] or
[2] above more than one time for an inspection or inspections arising from the same tenant complaint.
E. At any hearing conducted by the Board pursuant to this chapter, all
parties may have assistance in presenting evidence and developing
their position from attorneys, legal workers, tenant union representatives
or any persons designated by said parties.
F. At the
conclusion of a hearing held in accordance with this article, the
Board shall issue a decision, which decision shall be reduced to writing
by the Rent Control Board and shall become effective upon adoption
by the Board at the next Board meeting. A copy of the Board’s
decision shall be delivered to the landlord and the tenant via regular
mail within seven days of the Board’s adoption of same, by delivering
same to the landlord at the business address shown on the landlord’s
last registration renewal and to the tenant at his/her last known
address. Any party affected by the decision may submit to the Rent
Control Secretary a written request to receive a copy of the decision
prior to its adoption by the Board; provided, however, that the decision
shall not be binding or become effective until adopted by the Board
as set forth above.
G. In addition to any other fees set forth in this chapter, including but not limited to the inspection fees set forth in Subsection
D above, an application, complaint or request for a hearing filed pursuant to this chapter shall be accompanied by the fee set forth in Chapter
111, Fees.