[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Winslow 8-28-70 by Ord. No. 0-11-70 as
Ch. 41 of the 1970 Code of the Township of Winslow.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Boarding of windows — See Ch. 90.
Dangerous buildings — See Ch. 96.
Unfit buildings — See Ch. 100.
Public health nuisances — See Ch. 183.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 204.
[1]
Editor's Note: This legislation was originally adopted
6-20-68 as Ord. No. 0-7-68.
The Health Officer of the Township of Winslow be and he is hereby
designated as the officer to exercise the powers prescribed by this
chapter, and he shall serve in such capacity without any additional
salary.
For the purpose of this chapter, the Health Officer 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 Township of Winslow. 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.
[Amended 1-3-79 by Ord. No. 0-4-79]
Pursuant to the provisions of P.L. 1946, c. 21 (N.J.S.A. 40:49-5.1),
the New Jersey State Housing Code as approved by the Department of
Health and Conservation and Economic Development and filed in the
Secretary of State's office is hereby accepted, adopted and established
as the standard to be used as a guide in determining the fitness of
a building for human habitation, occupancy or use. A copy of the New
Jersey State Housing Code is annexed to this chapter and three (3)
copies of the same have been placed on file in the office of the Township
Clerk and are available to all persons desiring to use and examine
the same. Said New Jersey State Housing Code is hereby adopted in
its entirety.
Whenever a petition is filed with the Health Officer by a public
authority as defined in N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.4 or by at least five (5)
residents of the municipality charging that any dwelling is unfit
for human habitation, as herein defined, or whenever it appears to
the Health Officer 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 Health Officer or his designated
agent at a place therein fixed not less than ten (10) days nor more
than thirty (30) days after the serving of said 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 Health Officer.
The Health Officer is hereby authorized and directed to make
inspections to determine the condition of dwellings, dwelling units,
rooming units and premises located within the Township of Winslow
in order that he may perform his duty of safeguarding the health and
safety of the occupants of dwellings and of the general public. For
the purpose of making such inspections, the Health Officer is hereby
authorized to enter, examine and survey at all reasonable times all
dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and premises. The owner or
occupant of every dwelling, dwelling unit and rooming unit, or the
person in charge thereof, shall give the Health Officer free access
to such dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit and its premises at
all reasonable times for the purpose of such inspection, examination
and survey. Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall give
the owner thereof or his agent or employee access to any part of such
dwelling or dwelling unit or its premises at all reasonable times
for the purpose of making such repairs or alterations as are necessary
to effect compliance with the provisions of this chapter or with any
lawful rule or regulation adopted or any lawful order issued pursuant
to the provisions of this chapter.
A.
If, after such notice and hearing, the Health Officer determines
that the dwelling under consideration is unfit for human habitation,
as herein defined, he shall state in writing his findings of fact
in support of such determination and shall issue and cause to be served
upon the owner thereof and parties in interest an order requiring:
(1)
The repair, alteration or improvement of the said 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, requiring the
owner to vacate or to have said building vacated and closed within
the time set forth in the order.
(2)
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 said building within the time
specified in the order, that the owner remove or demolish the said
building within a reasonable time as specified in the said order of
removal.
(3)
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 Health Officer may cause such building to be repaired,
altered or improved, or to be vacated and closed. The Health Officer
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."
(4)
That if the owner fails to comply with an order to remove or demolish
the building, the Health Officer 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.
(5)
That the amount of 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 chapter determined
in favor of the municipality and 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.
B.
If the building is removed or demolished by the Health Officer, 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 Health Officer, 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 sixty (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.
Complaints or orders issued by the Health Officer pursuant to
this chapter 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 said Health Officer in the exercise
of reasonable diligence, and the said Health Officer 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 a week for
two (2) successive weeks in a newspaper which complies with the requirement
of state and local laws for the publishing of legal advertising for
the Township of Winslow. 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.
The Health Officer 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 chapter, including the following
in addition to others herein granted:
A.
To investigate the dwelling conditions in the Township of Winslow
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 chapter.
E.
To delegate any of his functions and powers under this chapter to
such officers and agents as he may designate.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abrogate or impair
the power of the township 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 chapter shall be in addition and supplemental to the powers
conferred upon the township by any other law or ordinance.