[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Montvale 2-9-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-1315 (Ch. 120 of the 1966 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
It is hereby found by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Montvale and hereby declared that there exist in the Borough of Montvale buildings, parts of buildings, mobile home parks or other facilities which are so old, dilapidated or have become so out of repair as to be dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use and are inimical to the welfare and dangerous and injurious to the health and safety of the people of the Borough, and a public necessity exists for the repair, closing or demolition of such building or buildings, mobile home parks or other facilities or part or parts thereof.
B. 
This chapter is hereby adopted to give the designated Public Officer the power, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.5 et seq., to exercise the Borough's police power to repair, close or demolish or cause or require the repairing, closing or demolition of such buildings, mobile home parks or other facilities, or part or parts thereof, or to abate any nuisance or correct any condition in accordance with the terms of N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.3 et seq.
The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this chapter, shall have the following respective meanings for the purposes of this chapter unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
ABANDONED PROPERTY
Any property determined to be abandoned pursuant to N.J.S.A. 55:19-78 et seq. and this chapter.
BUILDING
Any building or structure or part thereof, whether used for human habitation or otherwise, and includes any outhouses and appurtenances belonging thereto or usually enjoyed therewith.
OWNER
The holder or holders of title to property in fee simple.
PARTIES IN INTEREST
All individuals, associations and corporations who have interests of record in a building and any who are in actual possession thereof.
PUBLIC OFFICER
The Construction Official of the Borough of Montvale.
The Construction Official of the Borough of Montvale is hereby appointed as the Public Officer pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.5, and is further authorized to regulate and administer unfit buildings and abandoned properties consistent with this chapter and N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.3 et seq., 55:19-54 et seq., and 55:19-78 et seq.
A. 
Any building or buildings, or parts thereof, which have come into a state of disrepair through neglect, lack of maintenance or use, fire, accident or other calamities or through any other act rendering the building or buildings, or parts thereof, in a state of disrepair to the extent that the building is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use shall be deemed inimical to the welfare of the residents of the municipality wherein it is located, and a Public Officer appointed pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.3 et seq. may exercise his or her powers to repair, demolish, or cause the repairing or demolition of the building or buildings, or parts thereof, pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.5b.
B. 
Whenever a petition is filed with the Public Officer by a public authority or by at least five residents of the municipality charging that any building is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use or whenever it appears to the Public Officer (on his or her own motion) that any building is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use, the Public Officer shall, if his or her preliminary investigation discloses a basis for such charges, issue and cause to be served upon the owner of and parties in interest in such building a complaint stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the Public Officer (or his or her designated agent) at a place therein fixed not less than seven days nor more than 30 days after the serving of said complaint. 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 place and time fixed in the complaint. The rules of evidence prevailing in the courts shall not be controlling in hearings before the Public Officer.
C. 
If, after such notice and hearing, the Public Officer determines that the building under consideration is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use, he or she shall state, in writing, his or her 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:
(1) 
Requiring 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, to vacate or have the said building vacated and closed within the time set forth in the order; and
(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, then the owner shall be required to remove or demolish the said building within a reasonable time, as specified in the said order of removal.
D. 
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 Public Officer may cause such building to be repaired, altered or improved or to be vacated and closed. The Public 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."
E. 
If the owner fails to comply with an order to remove or demolish the building, the Public 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.
F. 
If an actual and immediate danger to life is posed by the threatened collapse of any fire-damaged or other structurally unsafe building, the Public Officer may, after taking such measures as may be necessary to make such building temporarily safe, seek a judgment in summary proceedings for the demolition thereof.
G. 
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, nor is anything in this chapter intended to limit the authority of the enforcing agency or construction official under the State Uniform Construction Code Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq. or any rules or regulations adopted thereunder.
The following costs shall become a municipal lien against the real property upon which such cost was incurred:
A. 
The cost of the filing of legal papers, expert witness fees, search fees and advertising charges incurred in the course of any proceeding taken under this chapter determined in favor of the municipality; and
B. 
The cost of such repairs, alterations or improvements or of 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. If the building is removed or demolished by the Public Officer, he or she shall sell the materials of such building. There shall be credited against the cost of the removal or demolition thereof, including the clearance and, if necessary, leveling of the site, 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 Public 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. Any owner or party in interest may, within 30 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 at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
The Public Officer may determine that a building is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use if he or she finds that conditions exist in such building which are dangerous or injurious to the health or safety of the occupants of such building, the occupants of neighboring buildings or other residents of such municipality. Such conditions shall be deemed to 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; uncleanliness; failure to comply with the requirements of the Building Code[1] or the certificate of occupancy.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 170, Construction Codes, Uniform.
Complaints or orders issued by a Public 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 the Public Officer in the exercise of reasonable diligence, and the Public 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 in a newspaper printed and published in the municipality or, in the absence of such newspaper, in one printed and published in the county and circulating in the municipality in which the buildings are located. A copy of such complaint or order shall be posted in a conspicuous place on premises affected by the complaint or order. 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 building is located.
Any person aggrieved by an order issued by a Public Officer under this chapter may, within 30 days after the posting and service of such order, bring an action for injunctive relief to restrain the Public Officer from carrying out the provisions of the order and for any other appropriate relief. The Court may proceed in the action in a summary manner or otherwise. The remedy herein provided shall be exclusive, and no person affected by an order of the Public Officer shall be entitled to recover any damages for action taken pursuant thereto, or because of noncompliance by any person with any order of the Public Officer.
The Public 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 powers in addition to others herein granted:
A. 
To investigate the building conditions in the municipality in order to determine which buildings therein are unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use;
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 or she deems necessary to carry out the purposes of the ordinances; and
E. 
To delegate any of his or her functions and powers under this chapter to such officers and agents as he or she may designate.
A. 
Except as provided in N.J.S.A. 55:19-83, any property that has not been legally occupied for a period of six months and which meets any one of the following additional criteria may be deemed to be abandoned property upon a determination by the Public Officer, or his or her designee (both together throughout this chapter referred to simply as the "Public Officer"), that:
(1) 
The property is in need of rehabilitation in the reasonable judgment of the Public Officer, and no rehabilitation has taken place during that same six-month period; or
(2) 
Construction was initiated on the property and was discontinued prior to completion, leaving the building unsuitable for occupancy, and no construction has taken place for at least six months as of the date of a determination by the Public Officer pursuant to this section; or
(3) 
At least one installment of property tax remains unpaid and delinquent on that property as of the date of a determination by the Public Officer pursuant to this section; or
(4) 
The property has been determined to be a nuisance by the Public Officer in accordance with N.J.S.A. 55:19-82 for one or more of the following reasons:
(a) 
The property has been found to be unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.3;
(b) 
The condition and vacancy of the property materially increases the risk of fire to the property and adjacent properties;
(c) 
The property is subject to unauthorized entry leading to potential health and safety hazards, the owner has failed to take reasonable and necessary measures to secure the property, or the municipality has secured the property in order to prevent such hazards after the owner has failed to do so;
(d) 
The presence of vermin or the accumulation of debris, uncut vegetation or physical deterioration of the structure or grounds has created potential health and safety hazards, and the owner has failed to take reasonable and necessary measures to remove the hazards; or
(e) 
The dilapidated appearance or other condition of the property materially affects the welfare, including the economic welfare, of the residents of the area in close proximity to the property, and the owner has failed to take reasonable and necessary measures to remedy the conditions.
B. 
A property which contains both residential and nonresidential space may be considered abandoned pursuant to N.J.S.A. 55:19-78 et seq., so long as 2/3 or more of the total net square footage of the building was previously legally occupied as residential space and none of the residential space had been legally occupied for at least six months at the time of the determination of abandonment by the Public Officer.
A. 
The Public Officer shall identify abandoned property within the Borough of Montvale for the purpose of establishing an abandoned property list. The abandoned property list shall include, for each abandoned property identified, the tax block and lot number, the name of the owner of record, if known, and the street address of the lot. The Public Officer may add properties to the abandoned property list at any time and may delete properties at any time when he or she or she finds that the property no longer meets the definition of an abandoned property.
B. 
An abandoned property shall not be included on the abandoned property list if rehabilitation is being performed in a timely manner, as evidenced by building permits issued and diligent pursuit of rehabilitation work authorized by those permits. A property on which an entity other than the Borough of Montvale has purchased or taken assignment from the Borough of a tax sale certificate which has been placed on the abandoned property list may be removed if the owner of the certificate pays all municipal taxes and liens due on the property within 30 days after the property is placed on the list; provided, however, that if the owner of the certificate fails to initiate foreclosure proceedings within six months after the property was first placed on the list, the property shall be restored to the abandoned property list in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 55:19-103.
C. 
The Public Officer shall establish the abandoned property list and any additions or deletions thereto by authorizing the publication of the list in the official newspaper of the Borough of Montvale, which publication shall constitute public notice and, within 10 days after publication, shall send a notice, by certified mail, return receipt requested, and by regular mail, to the owner of record of every property included on the list. The published and mailed notices shall identify property determined to be abandoned, setting forth the owner of record, if known, the tax lot and block number and street address. The Public Officer, in consultation with the Tax Collector, shall also send out a notice by regular mail to any mortgagee, servicing organization, or property tax processing organization that receives a duplicate copy of the tax bill pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:4-64d. When the owner of record is not known for a particular property and cannot be ascertained by the exercise of reasonable diligence by the Tax Collector, notice shall not be mailed but instead shall be posted on the property in the manner as provided in N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.7. The mailed notice shall indicate the factual basis for the Public Officer's finding that the property is abandoned property, as that term is defined herein and in N.J.S.A. 55:19-54, and shall specify the information relied upon in making such finding. In all cases, a copy of the mailed or posted notice shall also be filed by the Public Officer in the office of the Bergen County Clerk. This filing shall have the same force and effect as a formal notice under N.J.S.A. 2A:15-6. The notice shall be captioned with the name of the Borough of Montvale as plaintiff and the name of the property owner as defendant, as though an action had been commenced by the Borough against the owner.
D. 
An owner or lienholder may challenge the inclusion of his or her property on the abandoned property list by appealing that determination to the Public Officer within 30 days of the owner's receipt of the certified notice or 40 days from the date upon which the notice was sent. An owner whose identity was not known to the Public Officer shall have 40 days from the date upon which notice was published or posted, whichever is later, to challenge the inclusion of a property on the abandoned property list. For good cause shown, the Public Officer shall accept a late filing of an appeal. Within 30 days of receipt of a request for an appeal of the findings contained in the notice, the Public Officer shall schedule a hearing for redetermination of the matter. Any property included on the list shall be presumed to be abandoned property unless the owner, through the submission of an affidavit or certification asserting that the property is not an abandoned property, can demonstrate that the property was erroneously included on the list. The affidavit or certification shall be accompanied by supporting documentation such as, but not limited to, photographs, repair invoices, bills and construction contracts. The sole ground for appeal shall be that the property in question is not abandoned property as that term is defined herein and in N.J.S.A. 55:19-54. The Public Officer shall decide any timely filed appeal within 10 days of the hearing on the appeal and shall promptly, by certified mail, return receipt requested, and by regular mail, notify the property owner of the decision and the reasons therefor.
E. 
The property owner may challenge an adverse determination of an appeal with the Public Officer pursuant to Subsection D of this section by instituting, in accordance with the New Jersey Court Rules, a summary trial proceeding in the Superior Court, Bergen County. Such action shall be instituted within 20 days of the date of the notice of decision mailed by the Public Officer. The sole ground for appeal and a new hearing before the Superior Court shall be that the property in question is not an abandoned property as that term is defined in N.J.S.A. 55:19-54. The failure to institute an action of appeal on a timely basis shall constitute a jurisdictional bar to challenging the adverse determination, except that, for good cause shown, the Court may extend the deadline for instituting the action.
F. 
The Public Officer shall promptly remove any property from the abandoned property list that has been determined by him/her or on appeal not to be abandoned and may, in his or her discretion, remove properties from said list whenever he or she deems such removal appropriate under the circumstances.
G. 
The abandoned property list shall become effective, and the Borough of Montvale shall have the right to pursue any legal remedy with respect to properties on the list, at any time after at least one property has been placed on the list and following the expiration of the period for appeal with respect to that first property or upon the denial of an appeal brought by the property owner of that first property.
A. 
Any interested party may submit a written request to the Public Officer asserting that any property within the Borough of Montvale should be included on the abandoned property list. The written request must specify the street address and block and lot number of the property to be included and the grounds for its inclusion. Within 30 days of receipt of any such request, the Public Officer shall provide a written response to the party, either indicating that the property will be added to the list or, if not, the reasons for not adding the property. For the purposes of this section, the term "interested parties" shall include any resident of the Borough of Montvale, any owner or operator of a business within the Borough of Montvale or any organization representing the interests of residents, business owners or otherwise engaged in furthering the revitalization and improvement of the neighborhood in which the property is located.
B. 
Any interested party may participate in a redetermination hearing regarding the inclusion of a property on the abandoned property list. Upon written request by any interested party, the Public Officer shall provide that party with at least 20 days' notice of any such hearing. The party shall provide the Public Officer with notice, at least 10 days before the hearing, of his or her intention to participate and the nature of the testimony or other information that is proposed to be submitted at the hearing.
A. 
An owner may request removal of his or her property from the abandoned property list prior to sale of the tax sale certificate by paying all taxes and Borough liens due, including interest and penalties, and:
(1) 
By posting cash or a bond equal to the cost of remediating all conditions because of which the property has been determined to be abandoned pursuant to N.J.S.A. 55:19-55 and by posting cash or a bond to cover the cost of any environmental cleanup required on the property, evidenced by a certification by a licensed engineer retained by the owner and reviewed and approved by the Public Officer stating that the cash or bond adequately covers the cost of the cleanup; or
(2) 
By demonstrating to the satisfaction of both the Public Officer and the Borough Council that the conditions rendering the property abandoned have been remediated in full; provided, however, that where the Public Officer finds that the owner is actively engaged in remediating the conditions because of which the property was determined to be abandoned, as evidenced by significant rehabilitation activity on the property, the Public Officer may grant an extension of time of not more than 120 days for the owner to complete all work, during which time no further proceedings will be taken against the owner or the property.
B. 
If the owner has posted cash or a bond in order to have a property removed from the abandoned property list and the conditions because of which the property was determined to be abandoned have not been fully remediated within one year of the date of posting the cash or bond or, in the case of a property which requires a remediation of any known, suspected or threatened release of contaminants, if the owner has failed to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection or an administrative consent order, as the case may be, or if an agreement or order is in effect but the owner has failed to perform the remediation in conformance with the agreement or order, then the cash or bond shall be forfeited to the Borough, which shall use the cash or bond and any interest which has accrued thereon for the purpose of demolishing or rehabilitating the property or performing the environmental remediation. Any funds remaining after the property has been demolished, rehabilitated or cleaned up shall be returned to the owner.
A. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.A. 54:5-19, or the provisions of any other law to the contrary, if a property is included on the abandoned property list and the property taxes or other Borough liens due on the property are delinquent for six or more quarters as of the date of expiration of the right to appeal the property's inclusion on the list or, if an appeal has been filed, as of the date that all opportunities for appeal of inclusion on the list have been exhausted, then the tax lien on the property may be sold in accordance with the procedures of the Tax Sale Law, N.J.S.A. 54:5-1 et seq., on or after the 90th day following the expiration of that time of appeal or final determination on an appeal.
B. 
The Borough of Montvale may, at its option, require that the sale of the tax sale certificate or any subsequent assignment or transfer of a tax sale certificate held by the Borough be subject to the express condition that the purchaser or assignee shall be obliged to perform and conclude any rehabilitation or repairs necessary to remove the property from the abandoned property list pursuant to N.J.S.A. 55:19-55 and to post a bond in favor of the Borough to guarantee the rehabilitation or repair of the property. The Public Officer may waive the requirement to post a bond imposed by the Borough for any purchaser, assignee or transferee of a tax sale certificate that provides documentation acceptable to the Public Officer that the purchaser, assignee or transferee is a qualified rehabilitation entity as defined in N.J.S.A. 55:19-80. The cost of rehabilitation and repairs and the cost of the bond shall be added to the amount required to be paid by the owner for redemption of the property. The purchaser, assignee or transferee of the tax sale certificate who is required to rehabilitate and repair the property shall be required to file the appropriate affidavits with the Tax Collector, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:5-62, representing the amounts of monies expended periodically toward the rehabilitation or repair of the property. A purchaser, assignee or transferee shall be entitled to interest on the amounts expended, as set forth in the affidavits, at the delinquent rate of interest for delinquencies in excess of $1,500 in effect for the time period when the amounts were expended, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:4-67. The tax sale certificate purchaser, assignee or transferee, with the authority of the Borough of Montvale, shall be permitted to enter in and upon the property for the purposes of appraising the costs of rehabilitation and repair and to perform all other acts required to guarantee the completion of the rehabilitation or repair of the property. No rehabilitation or repair work shall be commenced, however, until proof of adequate liability insurance and an indemnification agreement holding the Borough of Montvale harmless has been filed with the Public Officer.
C. 
If the Borough of Montvale acquires the tax sale certificate for a property on the abandoned property list, then, upon 10 days' written notice to the property owner and any mortgagee as of the date of the filing of the notice pursuant to N.J.S.A. 55:19-55, the Borough shall be permitted to enter upon the property and remediate any conditions that caused the property to be included on the abandoned property list. No remediation shall be commenced, however, if within that ten-day period the owner or mortgagee shall have notified the Borough, in writing, that the owner or mortgagee has elected to perform the remediation himself or herself. When the owner or mortgagee elects to perform the remediation himself or herself, he or she shall be required to post a bond in favor of the Borough of Montvale in order to ensure performance. The amount and conditions of the bond shall be determined by the Public Officer.
D. 
The cost of remediation incurred by the Borough of Montvale, as so certified by the entity incurring the cost upon completion of the remediation, shall constitute a lien upon the property first in time and right to any other lien, whether the other lien was filed prior to or after the filing of any lien by the Borough, except for Borough taxes, liens and assessments and any lien imposed pursuant to the Spill Compensation and Control Act, N.J.S.A. 58:10-23.11 et seq., together with any interest thereon. The certification of cost shall be filed and recorded as a lien by the entity incurring the cost with the Bergen County Clerk.
E. 
The clearance, development, redevelopment, or repair of property being maintained as an abandoned property pursuant to this chapter shall be considered a public purpose and public use for which the power of eminent domain may be lawfully exercised.
A. 
The Borough of Montvale may hold special tax sales with respect to those properties eligible for tax sale pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:5-19 which are also on the abandoned property list.
B. 
The Public Officer, with the advice and consent of the Borough Council, shall establish criteria for eligibility to bid on properties at the sale, which may include, but need not be limited to:
(1) 
Documentation of the bidder's ability to rehabilitate or otherwise reuse the property consistent with Borough's plans and regulations and commitments by the bidder to rehabilitate or otherwise reuse the property consistent with Borough's plans and regulations;
(2) 
Commitments by the bidder to take action to foreclose on the tax lien by a date certain; and
(3) 
Such other criteria as the Public Officer, with the advice and consent of the Borough Council, may determine are necessary to ensure that the properties to be sold will be rehabilitated or otherwise reused in a manner consistent with the public interest.
C. 
The Public Officer, with the advice and consent of the Borough Council, may establish minimum bid requirements for a special tax sale that are less than the full amount of the taxes, interest and penalties due, to help ensure that the properties will be rehabilitated or otherwise utilized in a manner consistent with the public interest.
D. 
The Public Officer, with the advice and consent of the Borough Council, may combine properties in said special tax sale into bid packages and require that bidders place a single bid on each package, rejecting any and all bids on individual properties that are submitted.
E. 
The Public Officer, with the advice and consent of the Borough Council, may sell said properties subject to the provision that, if the purchaser fails to carry out any commitment that has been set forth as a condition of sale or misrepresents any material qualification that has been established as a condition of eligibility to bid pursuant thereto, then the properties and any interest thereto acquired by the purchaser shall revert to the Borough and any amount paid by the purchaser at the special tax sale shall be forfeited to the Borough.
F. 
In the event there are two or more qualified bidders for any property or bid package in a special tax sale, the Borough may designate the unsuccessful qualified bidder whose bid was closest to the successful bid as an eligible purchaser. In the event that the selected purchaser of that property or bid package fails to meet any of the conditions of sale established by the Borough pursuant to this section and his or her interest in the property or properties reverts to the Borough, the Borough may subsequently designate the entity previously designated as an eligible purchaser as the winning bidder for the property or properties and assign the tax sale certificates to that entity on the basis of that entity's bid at the special tax sale, subject to the terms and conditions of the special tax sale.
G. 
The Borough of Montvale shall provide notice of a special tax sale pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:5-26. The notice shall include any special terms of sale established by the Borough pursuant to this section. Nothing shall prohibit the Borough from holding a special tax sale on the same day as a standard or accelerated tax sale.
A. 
When a person or entity other than the Borough of Montvale acquires a tax sale certificate for a property on the abandoned property list at a tax sale, the purchaser may institute an action to foreclose the right of redemption at any time after the expiration of six months following the date of the sale of the tax sale certificate.
B. 
When the Borough of Montvale is the purchaser at a tax sale of any property on the abandoned property list pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:5-34, an action to foreclose the right of redemption may be instituted in accordance with the provisions of Subsection b of N.J.S.A. 54:5-77.
C. 
After the foreclosure action is instituted, the right to redeem shall exist and continue to exist until barred by the judgment of the Superior Court; provided, however, that no redemption shall be permitted except where the owner:
(1) 
Posts cash or a bond equal to the cost of remediating the conditions because of which the property was determined to be abandoned pursuant to N.J.S.A. 55:19-56, as determined by the Court; or
(2) 
Demonstrates to the Court that the conditions because of which the property was determined to be abandoned have been remedied in full.
A. 
If an entity other than the Borough of Montvale has purchased or taken assignment from the Borough of a tax sale certificate on a property that has not been legally occupied for a period of six months, that property shall not be added to the abandoned property list under the following limited circumstances:
(1) 
The owner of the certificate has continued to pay all Borough taxes and liens on the property in the tax year when due; and
(2) 
The owner of the certificate takes action to initiate foreclosure proceedings within six months after the property is eligible for foreclosure pursuant to either Subsection a or Subsection b of N.J.S.A. 54:5-86, as appropriate, and diligently pursues foreclosure proceedings in a timely fashion thereafter.
B. 
A property used on a seasonal basis shall be deemed abandoned only if it meets any two of the additional criteria set forth in N.J.S.A. 55:19-81.
C. 
A determination that a property is abandoned property under the provisions of this chapter and N.J.S.A. 55:19-78 et seq. shall not constitute a finding that the use of the property has been abandoned for purposes of municipal zoning or land use regulation.
D. 
Upon the request of a purchaser or assignee of a tax sale certificate seeking to bar the right of redemption on an abandoned property pursuant to Subsection b of N.J.S.A. 54:5-86, the Public Officer or the Tax Collector shall, in a timely fashion, provide the requester with a certification that the property fulfills the definition of an "abandoned property" according to the criteria established in N.J.S.A. 55:19-81 and 55:19-82.
E. 
Nothing in this chapter shall preclude the Borough from addressing concerns regarding the condition of the property through the Borough of Montvale habitability hearing process, established by Chapter 457 of the Borough Code, irrespective of any ongoing foreclosure proceedings.
A. 
A summary action or other action to transfer possession and control of abandoned property in need of rehabilitation to the Borough of Montvale may be brought by the Borough in the Superior Court, Bergen County, in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 55:19-84. If the Court shall find that the property is abandoned and that the owner or party in interest has failed to submit and initiate a rehabilitation plan, then the Court may authorize the Borough to take possession and control of the property and to develop its own rehabilitation plan for the property.
B. 
Where the Borough has been granted possession and control, the Borough may commence and maintain those further proceedings for the conservation, protection or disposal of the property, or any part thereof, that are required to rehabilitate the property and to recoup the costs and expenses of rehabilitation and for the sale of the property; provided, however, that the Court shall not direct the sale of the property if the owner applies to the Court for reinstatement of control and possession of the property as permitted by N.J.S.A. 55:19-92.
C. 
Failure by the owner, mortgage holder or lienholder to submit a plan for rehabilitation to the Borough, obtain appropriate construction permits or, in the alternative, submit formal applications for funding the cost of rehabilitation to local, state or federal agencies providing such funding within the initial six-month period shall be deemed clear evidence that the owner has failed to take any action to further the rehabilitation of the property.
D. 
An owner may defend against a complaint filed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 55:19-84 by submitting a plan for the rehabilitation and reuse of the property which is the subject of the complaint and by posting a bond equal to 125% of the amount determined by the Public Officer or the Court to be the projected cost of rehabilitation.
E. 
Any plan submitted by an owner to defend against a complaint shall be submitted within 60 days after the complaint has been filed, unless the Court provides the owner with an extension of time for good cause shown. A plan submitted by an owner pursuant to this section shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) 
A detailed financial feasibility analysis, including documentation of the economic feasibility of the proposed reuse, including operating budgets or resale prices, or both, as appropriate;
(2) 
A budget for the rehabilitation of the property, including sources and uses of funds, based on the terms and conditions of realistically available financing, including grants and loans;
(3) 
A timetable for the completion of rehabilitation and reuse of the property, including milestones for performance of major steps leading to and encompassing the rehabilitation and reuse of the property; and
(4) 
Documentation of the qualifications of the individuals and firms that will be engaged in carrying out the planning, design, financial packaging, construction, and marketing or rental of the property.
F. 
Where the Court approves the rehabilitation plan of the owner or other party in interest, then it may appoint the Public Officer to act as monitor of compliance and progress. If the owner fails to carry out any step in the approved plan, then the Borough may apply to the Court to have the posted bond forfeited, to transfer possession of the building to the Borough to complete the rehabilitation plan, and to grant authorization to use the bond proceeds for the rehabilitation. The owner or other party in interest shall provide bimonthly reports to the Public Officer on its activities and progress toward rehabilitation and reuse of the property.
G. 
If an owner is unsuccessful in defending against a complaint filed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 55:19-84, the mortgage holder or lienholder may seek to be designated as in possession of the property by submitting a plan and posting a bond meeting the same conditions as set forth in N.J.S.A. 55:19-87. His or her plan must be submitted within 60 days following the Court's rejection of the owner's plan, unless the Court provides the mortgage holder or lienholder with an extension of time for good cause shown. If the Court approves any such mortgage holder or lienholder's plan, it shall designate that party to be in possession of the property for purposes of ensuring its rehabilitation.
H. 
The mortgage holder or lienholder, as the case may be, shall provide bimonthly reports to the Court and the Public Officer on his or her activities and progress toward rehabilitation and reuse of the property. If the mortgage holder or lienholder fails to carry out any material step in the approved plan, then the Public Officer shall notify the Court, which may order the posted bond forfeit, grant the Borough possession of the property, and authorize the Borough to use the proceeds of the bond for rehabilitation of the property.
I. 
Any sums incurred or advanced for the purpose of rehabilitating the property by a mortgage holder or lienholder granted possession of a property, including court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees, may be added to the unpaid balance due to that mortgage holder or lienholder, with interest calculated at the same rate set forth in the note or security agreement or, in the case of a tax lienholder, at the statutory interest rate for subsequent liens.
J. 
If no mortgage holder or lienholder meets the conditions of N.J.S.A. 55:19-88, then the Borough may submit a plan to the Court which conforms with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 55:19-87. Such plan shall designate whether the Borough or a qualified rehabilitation entity shall undertake the rehabilitation plan in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 55:19-90.
A. 
The Public Officer, with the advice and consent of the Borough Council, may designate a qualified rehabilitation entity for the purpose of exercising the Borough's rights where that designation will further the rehabilitation and reuse of the property consistent with Borough's plans and objectives.
B. 
Regardless of whether the Borough exercises its rights directly or the Public Officer designates a qualified rehabilitation entity pursuant to this section, while in possession of a property the Borough shall maintain, safeguard, and maintain insurance on the property. Notwithstanding the Borough's possession of the property, the owner of the property shall not be relieved of any civil or criminal liability or any duty imposed by reason of acts or omissions of the owner.
C. 
The Court may approve the borrowing of funds by the Borough of Montvale to rehabilitate the property and may grant a lien or security interests with priority over all other liens or mortgages other than municipal liens. Prior to granting this lien priority, the Court must find as follows:
(1) 
The Borough sought to obtain the necessary financing from the senior lienholder, which declined to provide such financing on reasonable terms;
(2) 
The Borough sought to obtain a voluntary subordination from the senior lienholder, which refused to provide such subordination; and
(3) 
Lien priority is necessary in order to induce another lender to provide financing on reasonable terms. No lien authorized by the Court shall take effect unless recorded with the Clerk of Bergen County.
D. 
Where the Borough has designated a qualified rehabilitation entity to act on its behalf, the qualified rehabilitation entity shall provide bimonthly reports to the Public Officer on its activities and progress toward rehabilitation and reuse of the property. The Borough or qualified rehabilitation entity, as the case may be, shall provide such reports to the Court as the Court determines to be necessary. If the Court finds that the Borough or its designee has failed to take diligent action toward rehabilitation of the property within one year from the grant of possession, then the Court may request that the Borough designate another qualified rehabilitation entity to exercise its rights or, if the Borough fails to do so, may terminate the order of possession and return possession and control of the property to its owner.
E. 
The Borough of Montvale shall file a notice of completion with the Court and shall also serve a copy on the owner and any mortgage holder or lienholder, at such time as the Borough has determined that no more than six months remain until the anticipated date on which rehabilitation will be complete. This notice shall include an affidavit of the Public Officer, attesting that the rehabilitation is anticipated to be completed within six months, and a statement setting forth the actions it plans to undertake consistent with the plan.
A. 
An owner may petition for reinstatement of the owner's control and possession of the property at any time after one year from the Court's removal of possession but no later than 30 days after the Borough of Montvale has filed a notice of completion with the Court or, in the event the notice of completion is filed within less than one year of the grant of possession, within 30 days after the Borough has filed said notice.
B. 
The Court may allow additional time for good cause if that additional time does not materially delay completion of the rehabilitation, place undue hardship on the Borough or affect any of the terms or conditions under which the Borough has applied for or received financing for the rehabilitation of the property.
C. 
If the owner fails to petition for the reinstatement of control and possession of the property within 30 days after the Borough has filed a notice of completion or, in any event, within two years after the initial grant of possession, or if the owner fails to meet any conditions that may be set by the Court in granting a reinstatement petition, the Court may grant the Borough title or authorize the Borough to sell the property, subject to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 55:19-96.
A. 
The Public Officer, with the approval of the Court, may place a lien on the property to cover any costs to the Borough in connection with any proceeding under N.J.S.A. 55:19-78 et seq., incurred prior to the grant by the Court of an order of possession, which may include costs incurred to stabilize or secure the property to ensure that it can be rehabilitated in a cost-effective manner. Any such lien shall be considered a Borough lien for the purposes of N.J.S.A. 54:5-9, with the rights and status of a Borough lien pursuant thereto.
B. 
Where the Borough seeks to gain title to the property, it shall purchase the property for fair market value on such terms as the Court shall approve and may place the proceeds of sale in escrow with the Court.
C. 
The Court may authorize the Borough of Montvale to sell the building free and clear of liens, claims and encumbrances, in which event all such liens, claims and encumbrances shall be transferred to the proceeds of sale with the same priority as existed prior to resale in accordance with the provisions of this section, except that municipal liens shall be paid at settlement. The proceeds of the purchase of the property shall be distributed as set forth in N.J.S.A. 55:19-97.
D. 
Upon approval by the Court, the Borough shall sell the property on such terms and at such price as the Court shall approve and may place the proceeds of sale in escrow with the Court. The Court shall order a distribution of the proceeds of sale, after paying court costs, in the order of priority set forth in N.J.S.A. 55:19-97.
E. 
With the exception of the holding of special tax sales pursuant to N.J.S.A. 55:19-101, the remedies available under N.J.S.A. 55:19-78 et seq. shall be available to the Borough with respect to any abandoned property, whether or not the Borough has established an abandoned property list and whether or not the property at issue has been included on any such list.
No provision of this chapter shall be construed as restricting or otherwise abrogating the enforcement and other powers of the Borough's Construction Official under the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, including, without limitation, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-123 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.1 et seq. (collectively, the "code"). The provisions of this chapter shall be construed as consistent with the enforcement and other powers of the Borough's Construction Official under the code.