[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health of the Borough of
Somerville 3-26-69. Section 190-8 amended at time of adoption of Code;
see Ch. 176, General Provisions, Board of Health, Art. I. Other amendments
noted where applicable.]
The growth, existence or presence of ragweed, poison ivy, weeds,
tall grasses or brush on any plot of land, lot, street, highway, right-of-way
or any other public or private place is hereby declared to be a nuisance
and detrimental to public health.
No owner, tenant or occupant of any plot of land, lot, street,
highway, right-of-way or any other public or private place shall cause,
allow or permit ragweed, poison ivy, weeds, tall grasses, brush or
any articles which shall harm the aesthetic appearance of a neighborhood
to grow or exist thereon.
Whenever a nuisance as declared by this chapter is found on
any plot of land, lot, right-of-way or any other private premises
or place, notice in writing shall be given to the owner thereof to
remove or abate the same within such time as shall be specified therein
but not less than five (5) days from the date of service thereof.
A duplicate of the notice shall be left with one or more of the tenants
or occupants of the premises or place. If the owner resides out of
the state or cannot be so notified speedily, such notice shall be
left at that place or premises with the tenant or occupant thereof
or posted on the premises, and such action shall be considered proper
notification to the owner, tenant or occupant thereof.
Whenever a nuisance as declared by this chapter is found on
any public property or any highway or any other public premises or
place, notice in writing shall be given to the person in charge thereof
to remove or abate the same within such time as shall be specified
therein. If such person fails to comply with such notice within the
time specified therein, the Board of Health may remove or abate such
nuisance in the manner as hereinafter provided in the case of a like
condition existing on a private premise or place.
If the owner, tenant or occupant upon being notified as provided
by this chapter shall not comply with such notice within the time
specified therein and fails to remove or abate such nuisance, the
Board of Health shall proceed to abate the nuisance or may cause it
to be removed or abated in a summary manner by such means as said
Board shall deem proper.
The Board of Health may institute an action at law to recover
costs incurred by it in the removal or abatement of ragweed, poison
ivy, weeds, tall grasses or brush from any person who shall have caused
or allowed such nuisance to exist or from any owner, tenant or occupant
of premises who, after notice and notification as herein provided,
shall fail to remove and abate the same within the time specified
in such notice.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Board
of Health, its agents or employees.
Any person who violates or fails or neglects to comply with
any provision of this chapter or notice issued pursuant thereto shall,
upon conviction thereof, be liable to a penalty of not less than two
dollars ($2) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation.
