[Added 9-24-1968 by Ord. No. 2200]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 200, Art. III, Unsafe Buildings.
[Amended 6-10-1975 by Ord. No. MC 2451; 9-28-1982 by Ord. No. 2668; 2-13-1985 by Ord. No. 2769; 7-14-2009 by Ord. No. MC 3407; 7-1-2014 by Ord. No. MC 3511]
The Director of Housing Services of the Town is hereby designated as the Director to exercise the powers prescribed by this article, and he shall serve in such capacity without any additional salary.
[Amended 9-26-1972 by Ord. No. MC 2333; 6-10-1975 by Ord. No. MC 2451; 9-28-1982 by Ord. No. 2668; 2-13-1985 by Ord. No. 2769; 7-14-2009 by Ord. No. MC 3407; 7-1-2014 by Ord. No. MC 3511]
Whenever such dwelling referred to in the housing code shall have any of the services, facilities, equipment or utilities required thereunder removed therefrom, shut off or discontinued, or about to be removed therefrom, shut off or discontinued, the Director of Housing Services of the Town or his duly authorized agents are hereby authorized and empowered to arrange for the prompt restoration or continuance of such items by communicating with the owner or person in charge of such premises to accomplish such restoration or continuance of such items.
[Amended 9-26-1972 by Ord. No. MC 2333; 6-10-1975 by Ord. No. MC 2451; 9-28-1982 by Ord. No. 2668; 2-13-1985 by Ord. No. 2769; 7-14-2009 by Ord. No. MC 3407; 7-1-2014 by Ord. No. MC 3511]
A. 
Every landowner or person, firm or corporation who leases or lets to another any dwelling unit wherein the services, facilities, equipment or utilities referred to in the housing code are included within the terms of the rental and who fails to maintain and continue such services, facilities, equipment or utilities or any of same shall be, or where such services, facilities, equipment or utilities are about to be removed from, shut off or discontinued to such dwelling and the Director of Housing Services or his duly authorized agents shall be unable to have same restored or continued, as the case may be, by communicating with the owner or his agent of such property, such Director or his duly authorized agents are hereby authorized and empowered to arrange for such restoration or continuance, as the case may be, by arranging for the Town to pay the cost and expenses of such restoration or continuation, and to certify such costs to the Municipal Council of the Town.
B. 
Upon certification by the Director of Housing Services of the costs and expenses incurred by the Town, the Municipal Council may, by resolution, assess the amount of such certified costs and expenses against the lands and premises involved as a paramount lien against same, and such amount of lien shall be enforced and collected in the same manner as assessments for local improvements and taxes past due, and the Tax Collector or officer charged with the enforcement and collection of assessments for local improvements and taxes shall be charged with the same duties in regards to the collection and enforcement of the lien herein created.
[Amended 9-28-1982 by Ord. No. 2668; 2-13-1985 by Ord. No. 2769; 7-14-2009 by Ord. No. MC 3407; 7-1-2014 by Ord. No. MC 3511]
For the purpose of this article, the Director of Housing Services may determine that a dwelling is unfit for human habitation if he finds that conditions exist in such dwelling which are dangerous or injurious to the health or safety of the occupants of such dwelling, the occupants of neighboring dwellings or other residents of the Town. Such conditions may include the following (without limiting the generality of the foregoing): defects therein increasing the hazards of fire, accident or other calamities; lack of adequate ventilation, light or sanitary facilities; dilapidation; disrepair structural defects or uncleanliness.
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 21, P.L. 1946 (N.J.S.A. 40:49-5.1), the New Jersey State Housing Code as approved by the Departments of Health and Conservation and Economic Development and filed in the Secretary of State's office is hereby accepted, adopted and established as a standard to be used as a guide in determining the fitness of a building for human habitation or occupancy or use. A copy of the New Jersey State Housing Code is annexed to this article and three copies of the same have been placed on file in the office of the Town Clerk and are available to all persons desiring to use and examine the same.
[Amended 9-28-1982 by Ord. No. MC 2668; 2-13-1985 by Ord. No. MC 2769; 7-14-2009 by Ord. No. MC 3407; 7-1-2014 by Ord. No. MC 3511]
Whenever a petition is filed with the Director of Housing Services by a public authority, as defined in N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.4, or by at least five residents of the municipality, charging that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation as herein defined, or whenever it appears to the Director (on his own motion) that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation, as herein defined, he shall, if his preliminary investigation discloses a basis for such charges, issue and cause to be served upon the owner of and parties in interest in such dwelling a complaint stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the Director or his designated agent at a place therein fixed not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days after the serving of such complaint, that the owner and parties in interest shall be given the right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear in person, or otherwise, and give testimony at the time and place fixed in the complaint and that the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling in hearings before the Director.
[Amended 9-28-1982 by Ord. No. 2668; 2-13-1985 by Ord. No. 2769; 7-14-2009 by Ord. No. MC 3407; 7-1-2014 by Ord. No. MC 3511]
If, after such notice and hearing, the Director of Housing Services determines that the dwelling under consideration is unfit for human habitation, as herein defined, he shall state in writing his findings of fact and serve upon the owner thereof and parties in interest an order requiring:
A. 
The repair, alteration or improvement of such building to be made by the owner within a reasonable time, which time shall be set forth in the order, or, at the option of the owner, to vacate or to have such building vacated and closed within the time set forth in the order, and
B. 
If the building is in such a condition as to make it dangerous to the health and safety of persons on or near the premises and the owner fails to repair, alter or improve the building within the time specified in the order, that the owner remove or demolish the building within a reasonable time as specified in the order of removal.
C. 
That, if the owner fails to comply with an order to repair, alter or improve, or, at the option of the owner, to vacate and close the building, the Director of Housing Services may cause such building to be repaired, altered or improved, or to be vacated and closed; that the Director may cause to be posted on the main entrance of any building so closed a placard with the following words: "This building is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use; the use or occupation of this building is prohibited and unlawful."
D. 
That, if the owner fails to comply with an order to remove or demolish the building, the Director may cause such building to be removed or demolished or may contract for the removal or demolition thereof after advertisement for and receipt of bids therefor.
E. 
That the amount of:
(1) 
The cost of the filing of legal papers, expert witnesses' fees, search fees and advertising charges incurred in the course of any proceeding taken under this article determined in favor of the municipality, and
(2) 
Such cost of such repairs, alterations or improvements, or vacating and closing, or removal or demolition, if any, or the amount of the balance thereof remaining after deduction of the sum, if any, realized from the sale of materials derived from such building or from any contract for removal or demolition thereof, shall be a municipal lien against the real property upon which such cost was incurred. If the building is removed or demolished by the Director, he shall sell the materials of such building. There shall be credited against the cost of the removal or demolition thereof the proceeds of any sale of such materials or any sum derived from any contract for the removal or demolition of the building. If there are no such credits or if the sum total of such costs exceeds the total of such credits, a detailed statement of the aforesaid costs and the amount so due shall be filed with the Municipal Tax Assessor or other custodian of the records of tax liens and a copy thereof shall be forthwith forwarded to the owner by registered mail. If the total of the credits exceeds such costs, the balance remaining shall be deposited in the Superior Court by the Director, shall be secured in such manner as may be directed by such Court, and shall be disbursed according to the order or judgment of the Court to the persons found to be entitled thereto by final order or judgment of such Court; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed to impair or limit in any way the power of the municipality to define and declare nuisances and to cause their removal or abatement, by summary proceedings or otherwise. Any owner or party in interest may, within 60 days from the date of the filing of the lien certificate, proceed in a summary manner in the Superior Court to contest the reasonableness of the amount or the accuracy of the costs set forth in the municipal lien certificate.
[Amended 9-28-1982 by Ord. No. MC 2668; 2-13-1985 by Ord. No. MC 2769; 7-14-2009 by Ord. No. MC 3407; 7-1-2014 by Ord. No. MC 3511]
Complaints or orders issued by the Director of Housing Services pursuant to this article shall be served upon persons either personally or by registered mail, but if the whereabouts of such persons is unknown and the same cannot be ascertained by such Director in the exercise of reasonable diligence, and the Director shall make an affidavit to that effect, then the serving of such complaint or order upon such persons may be made by publishing the same once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper printed and published in the Town. A copy of such complaint or order shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises affected by the complaint or order, and a copy of such complaint or order shall be duly recorded or lodged for record with the county recording officer of the county in which the dwelling is located.
[Amended 9-28-1982 by Ord. No. MC 2668; 2-13-1985 by Ord. No. 2769; 7-14-2009 by Ord. No. MC 34077-1-2014 by Ord. No. MC 3511]
The Director of the Department of Housing Services is hereby authorized and empowered to exercise such powers as may be necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this article, including the following in addition to others herein granted:
A. 
To investigate the dwelling conditions in the Town in order to determine which dwellings therein are unfit for human habitation.
B. 
To administer oaths, affirmations, examine witnesses and receive evidence.
C. 
To enter upon premises for the purpose of making examinations, provided that such entries shall be made in such manner as to cause the least possible inconvenience to the persons in possession.
D. 
To appoint and fix the duties of such officers, agents and employees as he deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this article.
E. 
To delegate any of his functions and powers under this article to such officers and agents as he may designate.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to abrogate or impair the power of the Town or any officer or department to enforce any provisions of its Charter or its ordinances or regulations nor to prevent or punish violations thereof, and the powers conferred by this article shall be in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred upon the Town by any other law or ordinance.