The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by any officer
or employee whose regular duties include enforcement of building,
plumbing, electrical, zoning, health, housing, safety or fire code
regulations or statutes, and reference hereinafter to the enforcement
officer shall be deemed to mean any such officer or employee who is
acting in such capacity with respect to enforcement of this chapter.
Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer finds that an emergency condition in violation of this chapter exists, which condition requires immediate attention in order to protect the public health or safety, he shall issue an order by service of notice as set forth in §
447-13, reciting the existence of such an emergency condition and requiring that such action be taken by the violator as soon as reasonably necessary to meet the emergency. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, such order shall be effective immediately. Any person to whom such an order is directed shall comply therewith immediately, but upon objection in writing to the Township Administrator, any such person shall be afforded a hearing before the Township Administrator as soon as is reasonably possible. After such a hearing and decision by the Township Administrator to the existence or nonexistence of the emergency condition, the Township Administrator may continue such order in effect, or modify or withdraw it; subject to issuance of a summons for violation hereof, such order is continued. A decision by the Township Administrator may be appealed to the Sussex County Board of Appeals, if that body has jurisdiction.
Nothing contained herein shall limit the power of the Code Enforcement
Officer to take such further action under the criminal and civil laws
of this state through any court of competent jurisdiction as may be
necessary to remove or abate any nuisance.
Upon issuance of notice required by §§
447-13 and
447-14, property owners shall correct the condition and notify the Code Enforcement Officer that said condition has been corrected. An inspection shall then be made for which no fee shall be charged. Should full compliance not be achieved at the time of the inspection, the Township shall be reimbursed for cost of all reinspections by the property owner. Failure to reimburse the Township shall result in a lien for said cost being placed against the property.
Except as otherwise outlined in this chapter, any person or
entity who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or
any order promulgated hereunder shall, after summons is issued under
the terms hereof, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed
$2,000. Each violation of any of the provisions of this chapter and
each day that each such violation shall continue may be deemed to
be a separate and distinct offense.
Where abatement of any nuisance as defined herein was accomplished
and premises brought into compliance with this chapter through the
expenditures of Township funds, such costs shall be assessed against
the premises cited as a lien in the same manner as real estate taxes
if ordered by the court.
Any farm assessed property that is registered with the Township
and the State of New Jersey Department of Agriculture shall be exempt
from this chapter.