Unsafe buildings pose a threat to life and property in the Village
of Whitesboro. Buildings and structures may become unsafe by reason
of damage by fire, the elements, age or general deterioration. Vacant
buildings not properly secured at doorways and windows also serve
as an attractive nuisance for young children, who may be injured therein,
as well as a point of congregation by vagrants and transients. A dilapidated
building may also serve as a place of rodent infestation, thereby
creating a health menace to the community. Debris, rubble or parts
of buildings left on the ground and not removed constitute a dangerous,
unhealthy and unsightly condition. It is the purpose of this chapter
to provide for the safety, health, protection and general welfare
of persons and property in the Village of Whitesboro by requiring
such unsafe buildings to be repaired or demolished and removed.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
BUILDING
Any building, structure or portion thereof used for residential,
business, industrial, recreational or other purpose.
CODES ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The Code Enforcement Officer of the Village of Whitesboro
or such other person appointed by the Board of Trustees to enforce
the provisions of this chapter.
PORTION OF BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
Any debris, rubble or parts of buildings which remain on
the ground or on the premises after demolition, reconstruction, fire
or other casualty.
UNSAFE BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
Any building or structure or portion thereof which:
A.
Because of its structural condition, is or may become dangerous
or unsafe to the public.
B.
Is open at the doorways or windows or walls, making it accessible
to and an object of attraction to minors under 18 years of age as
well as to vagrants and other trespassers.
C.
Is or may become a place of rodent infestation.
D.
Consists of debris, rubble or parts of buildings left on the
ground after demolition, reconstruction, fire or other casualty.
E.
Presents any other danger to the health, safety, morals and
general welfare of the public.
It shall be unlawful for any owner, tenant or occupant of any building or structure or portion of any building or structure in the Village of Whitesboro to maintain such building or structure or portion of such building or structure in any condition or manner which shall be unsafe as defined in §
106-2 of this chapter.
When, in the opinion of the Codes Enforcement Officer, any building or structure located in the Village of Whitesboro shall be deemed to be dangerous or unsafe to the public as defined in §
106-2, the Codes Enforcement Officer shall make a formal inspection thereof and report in writing to the Board of Trustees his findings and recommendations in regard to the building's or structure's removal or repair.
The Board of Trustees shall thereupon consider said report,
and, if it finds that such building or structure is dangerous and
unsafe to the public, it shall, by resolution, order its repair if
the same can be safely repaired, and if not, its removal and demolition,
and shall further order that a hearing be held before the Board of
Trustees at a time and place therein specified and on at least five
days' notice to the owner of the building or structure or persons
having an interest therein to determine whether said order to repair
or remove shall be affirmed or modified or vacated and, in the event
of modification or affirmance, to assess all costs and expenses incurred
by the Village in the repair or removal of such building or structure
against the land on which said building or structure is located.
The notice of hearing shall contain the following statements:
A. The name of the owner or person in possession as appears from the
tax and deed records.
B. A brief description of the premises and its location.
C. A description of the building or structure which is unsafe or dangerous
and a statement of the particulars in which it is unsafe or dangerous.
D. An order requiring the same to be made safe and secure or to be removed.
E. That the securing or removal of said building or structure shall
commence within a specified number of days of the service of the notice
and shall be completed within a specified number of days thereafter.
F. The time and place of the hearing to be held before the Board of
Trustees, at which hearing the owner or occupant shall have the right
to contest the order and findings of the Board of Trustees.
G. That in the event that such owner, occupant or other person having
an interest in said premises shall fail to contest such order and
fail to comply with the same, the Board of Trustees will order the
repair or removal of such building or structure by the Village, and
that the Village will assess all costs and expenses incurred in such
removal against the land on which such building or structure is located.
H. That in any case where a building which is required to be made safe
and secure under this chapter is made safe by the Boarding up thereof,
the material used for such boarding shall be painted, as near as practicable,
the same color as the building.
The Board of Trustees shall conduct the public hearing at the
time and place specified in the notice to repair or demolish. It may
adjourn the hearing from time to time until all interested parties
are heard and until the hearing is completed. At the conclusion of
the hearing, the Board of Trustees shall determine by resolution to
revoke the order to repair or remove, modify said order or continue
and affirm said order and direct the owner or other persons to complete
the work within the time specified in the order or such other time
as shall be determined by the Board of Trustees.
In the event of the refusal, failure or neglect of the owner
or person so notified to comply with said order of the Board of Trustees
within the time specified in said order and after the public hearing,
the Board of Trustees shall provide that such building or structure
be made safe and secure or removed and demolished by Village employees
or by independent contractors. Except in emergency cases as herein
provided, any contract for repair or demolishing and removal of a
building or structure in excess of $5,000 shall be awarded through
competitive bidding.
All expenses incurred by the Village in connection with the
proceedings to repair and secure or demolish and remove the unsafe
building, including the cost of actually removing such building, shall
be assessed against the land on which such building is located and
shall be levied and collected in the same manner as provided in Article
5 of the Village Law for the levy and collection of real property
taxes.
Where it reasonably appears that there is present a clear and imminent danger to the life, safety or health of any person or property unless an unsafe building or structure is immediately repaired and secured or demolished, the Board of Trustees may, by resolution, authorize the Codes Enforcement Officer to immediately cause the repair or demolition of such unsafe building or structure. The expenses of such repair or demolition shall be a charge against the land on which it is located and shall be assessed, levied and collected as provided in §
106-10 hereof.
The Board of Trustees, in its discretion, may elect to apply
to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for an order directing
that the building be repaired and secured or demolished and removed.
The Board of Trustees may commence a special proceeding pursuant
to § 78-b of the General Municipal Law to collect the costs
of demolition, including reasonable and necessary legal expenses.