A.Â
It shall be unlawful for any owner, tenant or person to gather, accumulate,
keep or permit the gathering, accumulation or keeping of brush, weeds,
dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, filth, garbage,
trash, debris, litter, refuse, rubbish or any of the articles on any
land or in any place in the Township in such a manner as to constitute
a menace to public health, safety or general welfare or to create
a fire hazard.
A.Â
The owner, tenant or person having charge or control over the premises
where any material has accumulated in violation of any provision of
§ 64-14 shall remove or cause the removal of the articles
as provided in this chapter.
A.Â
Enforcement. If any condition described in § 64-14 above
is deemed to exist, it shall be the duty of the Health Inspector/Officer,
Code Enforcement Department, Zoning Official and the Police Department
of the Township, or any of them, to then give written notice to the
owner of the premises or the tenant therein or the person having charge
or control thereof, requiring the removal of the articles within 10
days after the service of the notice.
B.Â
Notice. Any notice mentioned herein may be served in person or by
mailing to the last known address of the respective owner or tenant
or person in charge. When the owner or person in charge does not reside
in the Township and when service is by mailing, then a copy of the
notice shall be posted on the same day as the mailing at the premises
where the condition exists. Failure to rectify the condition of which
notice is given within the period specified in the notice shall constitute
a violation hereunder.
A.Â
The Health Inspector/Officer, Code Enforcement Department, Zoning
Official and the Police Department of the Township, or any of them,
are hereby designated enforcement officers of this section with full
power to make complaints and issue summonses for violations. The designation
herein contained shall not limit the capacity or authority of any
person or officer authorized to enforce this section or any similar
ordinance under any other ordinance or law.
A.Â
If the owner, tenant or person in charge shall fail to remove the
brush, weeds, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths,
filth, garbage, trash, debris or other articles within the time required
by the notice, then the Chief of the Fire Department and the Health
Officer or Inspector or any officer stated hereinabove may remove
or cause or arrange for the removal of the articles. The officer causing
the removal shall keep an accurate account of the cost thereof and
shall certify the cost and expense to the Township Committee, which
shall examine the certification. If the Township Committee shall find
the same correct, the cost shall be charged against the lands upon
which the articles are located and from which they were removed. A
statement of the cost shall forthwith be furnished by the Township
Clerk to the Collector of Taxes, and the cost shall forthwith become
a lien upon the lands where the violation existed and shall be added
to, become and form part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied
upon the lands, to bear interest at the same rate as taxes, and the
lien shall be collected and enforced in the same manner as taxes,
pursuant to the statutes governing the subject matter.
