[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Lumberton 10-7-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-17. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
The Township Committee of Lumberton Township finds and declares that there are properties located within the Township where nuisances exist, and other activities occur which have resulted in the excessive consumption of municipal services.
B. 
The Township Committee of Lumberton Township finds and declares that the cost of the excessive consumption of municipal services relating directly to these nuisance properties should be paid by the property owner and not through general tax revenues.
C. 
This chapter is intended to establish regulations and procedures identifying and providing for the assessment and timely payment of the cost of excessive consumption of municipal services associated with these nuisance properties.
As used in this chapter, the following terms are defined as set forth herein:
EXCESSIVE MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Any qualifying Lumberton Township Police Department calls made to a property while that property is on probationary nuisance status.
NUISANCE PROPERTY
Properties on which activities occur that result in qualifying Lumberton Township Police Department calls for municipal services during any sixty-day period in excess of the number of calls listed on the schedule in § 223-5 are considered nuisance properties and are subject to the penalties and procedures as set forth in this chapter.
PROBATIONARY NUISANCE STATUS
The designation applied to properties which, as determined by a public officer, have received the requisite number of qualifying calls within a sixty-day period. Probationary nuisance status is effective for a twelve-month period beginning on the date of the public officer's determination. During probationary nuisance status, the property owner is liable to the Township Committee of Lumberton Township for user charges from each qualifying call.
QUALIFYING CALLS
Calls resulting from Lumberton Township Police Department responses to potential violations of state or local laws, regulations, or ordinances, including, but not limited to, those cited in the following list, and others not so identified but specifically determined to be qualifying by the hearing officer. Not included in the following list are calls for permitting, licensing, inspections, or similar administrative functions and calls from or on behalf of victims who reside at the property which is the subject matter of the call.
A. 
The illegal sale, service, or consumption of alcoholic beverages.
B. 
Disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, littering or excessive noise.
C. 
Damage to property or injury to a person.
D. 
Improperly parking a vehicle, or any motor vehicle violation on private property.
E. 
Possession of a barking, howling, biting, or dangerous animal.
F. 
Possession, distribution, or use of a controlled substance.
G. 
Prostitution.
H. 
Public urination, defecation, or indecent exposure.
I. 
Criminal activity.
J. 
Juvenile complaints/juvenile activity.
USER FEE
A fee of $300 for each additional qualifying call made to the subject property within the twelve-month period following the date a complaint is issued for excessive consumption of municipal services.
A. 
The Township Chief of Police, or his designee, must keep and maintain records documenting the following information concerning the properties serviced:
(1) 
The exact address and Tax Map designation of the subject property.
(2) 
The name(s) and address of property owners.
(3) 
The date(s) of the incident(s).
(4) 
A full description of the nature of the incident and the violation(s).
(5) 
The identity of the public employee providing the services.
B. 
The Lumberton Township Police Department providing the excessive municipal services shall coordinate as needed with other municipal agencies and the Municipal Administrator to enforce this chapter.
During any sixty-day period, properties that necessitate qualifying calls for municipal services that exceed the amounts set forth in the following schedule qualify for designation as nuisance properties and subject to penalties and procedures established under this chapter.
A. 
Residential properties of one through four dwelling units: five qualifying calls.
B. 
Multifamily dwelling and hotel/motel uses:
(1) 
Five through 40 dwelling units: 10 qualifying calls.
(2) 
Forty-one through 80 dwelling units: 20 qualifying calls.
(3) 
Eighty-one through 200 dwelling units: 30 qualifying calls.
(4) 
Over 200 dwelling units: 40 qualifying calls.
C. 
Community residences: five qualifying calls.
D. 
Convenience, grocery, liquor and retail stores: 10 qualifying calls.
E. 
Restaurants, bars, and entertainment establishments: 30 qualifying calls.
F. 
All other properties not included in the preceding categories: 10 qualifying calls.
A. 
Whenever the public officer determines that any property has become a nuisance property based on excessive consumption of municipal services, he or she shall issue a notice and complaint reciting the location of the property, stating that the property is on probationary nuisance status, and the allegations supporting a finding of excessive use and providing the property owner a period of five business days from service of the notice and complaint to request, in writing, a hearing on the designation of probationary nuisance status. A notice of hearing setting forth the date and time and place for a hearing on the matter, if requested, shall be included with the complaint. The failure to request a hearing within the foregoing five-day period shall be deemed a waiver of the right to hearing and result in probationary nuisance status being deemed effective as of the date of the notice and complaint.
B. 
The complaint shall also provide notice:
(1) 
That the property will be on probationary nuisance status for the 12 months following the date of the complaint.
(2) 
That, during the probationary nuisance status period, each additional qualifying call to the property will be subject to a user fee of $300 per call.
(3) 
Listing the dates and the nature of the qualifying calls made to the subject property that gave rise to the determination of excessive use.
(4) 
Directing that the offending activities be immediately abated.
C. 
The complaint and notice of hearing shall be served on the property owner. Service shall be made by regular mail and either certified mail, return receipt required, or overnight delivery service to the last-known address of the property owner as it appears in Township records.
D. 
If the whereabouts of the property owner cannot be ascertained by reasonable diligence, service of the complaint and notice of hearing shall be effectuated as follows:
(1) 
One-time publication of the complaint and notice of hearing in one of the Township's official newspapers.
(2) 
Conspicuous posting of the complaint and notice of hearing on a building or structure located on the subject property.
E. 
Whenever an individual dwelling unit within a multifamily dwelling has received five qualifying calls within a sixty-day period, the public officer shall notify the property owner as provided hereunder so that the property owner can take action to abate the nuisance. This notice shall be issued notwithstanding that the multifamily dwelling did not receive the required number of qualifying calls that would trigger a notice of violation.
F. 
Should the number of qualifying calls to any property meet or exceed 50% of the number specified in § 223-5, the public officer may, but is not required to, so notify the owner, tenant, or occupant thereof.
A. 
A hearing on probationary nuisance status, if timely requested pursuant to § 223-6, shall be held on the allegations recited in the complaint. The public officer or other police officers involved shall present evidence and testify at the hearing and may produce witnesses in support of the allegations recited in the complaint. The property owner and any interested party shall have the right to appear at the hearing and testify, produce witnesses, and may be represented by an attorney.
B. 
The Municipal Administrator shall serve as hearing officer. The hearing officer is charged with determining whether, in a sixty-day period, the subject property received qualifying calls in excess of those permitted under § 223-5. If so, the hearing officer shall confirm that the property was on probationary nuisance status from the date of the complaint. If the hearing officer also determines that qualifying calls were made to the subject property during the probationary period, the fact shall be so noted in the hearing officer's findings. Based on these findings, the hearing officer shall enter an order against the property owner.
C. 
The following shall be memorialized in the hearing officer's order:
(1) 
A finding that the subject property shall be placed on probationary nuisance status for a twelve-month period commencing from the date of the notice and complaint.
(2) 
A determination that an excessive number of qualifying calls were made to the subject property during the sixty-day period for establishing probationary status under § 223-5.
(3) 
An assessment of the reasonable costs of litigation, including, but not limited to, the costs of a court reporter and transcript, and an administration fee of $100.
D. 
Additional qualifying calls to the subject property following the hearing finding probationary nuisance status and within a one-year period from the date of the complaint constitute a further violation of this chapter and are subject to a $300 per call user fee. A summons and complaint shall be filed in the Lumberton Municipal Court for each subsequent qualifying call, each being a separate violation, with the $300 per call user fee the penalty to be imposed upon a guilty plea or conviction. Notice of this provision shall be incorporated in the hearing officer's order.
E. 
The hearing officer's order shall be served upon the appropriate parties in the same manner as service of the complaint and notice of hearing; except that, in the event the whereabouts of the property owner, tenant, or occupant cannot be ascertained, then the order shall also be recorded in the Burlington County Clerk's office.
A. 
Any fees, costs, or penalties that remain unpaid 60 days from the date of an order issued pursuant to this chapter shall be assessed as a lien against the subject property, enforceable and collectible in the same manner as liens for delinquent real property taxes and municipal service charges.
B. 
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:52-1.2, municipal licenses, permits, and certificates of occupancy applied for or issued to the subject property may be revoked, suspended, withheld, or denied renewal for failure to comply with and satisfy any payment obligations under an order imposed pursuant to this chapter.