A. 
The Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Officer of the Borough of Wood-Ridge and any Deputy, Assistant, or Special Assistant Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Officers are hereby designated and authorized by the Mayor and Borough Council, under the direction of the Borough Administrator, to enforce any and all provisions of this chapter and are hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Officer."
B. 
All members of the Police Department, managers and supervisors of the Public Works Department, licensed officials and inspectors and certified technical assistants of the Construction Code Office, licensed officials and inspectors of the Fire Prevention Bureau, and the Borough Engineer, Zoning Officer, and Board of Health Secretary, respectively, are hereby designated as Special Assistant Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Officers for the purposes of enforcement of this chapter.
[Amended 2-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-2]
C. 
Individual members of the Fire Department may be designated as Special Assistant Property Maintenance Code Officers by the Borough Administrator for the purpose of assisting with inspection and enforcement matters related to fire prevention.
D. 
Under the provisions of this chapter, the jurisdiction of the Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Officer and any Deputy, Assistant, or Special Assistant Officers shall relate to the appearance, condition, maintenance, and upkeep of structures and property only unless otherwise specified by other ordinances or chapters of the code of the Borough of Wood-Ridge. This chapter, however, shall not be construed to delimit the powers of any governmental agency of the Borough hereinbefore or hereinafter established by any state statute or by any other ordinances of the Borough of Wood-Ridge.
A. 
Whenever the Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Officer determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provisions of this chapter, the Officer shall give a notice of such alleged violation to the owner or operator responsible therefor as hereinafter provided.
B. 
Such notice shall be in writing, shall include a statement of the reasons why it is being issued and shall be served upon the owner or operator of the property or their agent, provided that such notice shall be deemed to be properly served if a copy thereof is served upon such person personally, or sent by certified or registered mail to their last known address, or posted in a conspicuous place on or about the property affected by the notice.
C. 
Such notice shall be deemed an order to cease, desist, remediate, and/or abate the described violation to effectuate compliance with the provisions of the chapter.
D. 
Such notice shall state that a complaint may be filed against the owner and/or operator with the Wood-Ridge Municipal Court if such violation is not abated within 10 days from the date of service of the notice.
E. 
Such notice may also contain an outline of remedial action which, if taken, will effectuate compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
F. 
The Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Officer is authorized to extend the time period for compliance, remediation, or abatement of any violation, provided the owner or operator has taken progressive action to address the violation.
A. 
Whenever the owner or operator of a property within the Borough, having received a notice of violation as provided for in this chapter, fails to respond and/or comply with the order to cease, desist, remediate, and/or abate and fails to appear, respond, and/or comply with a notice, summons, and/or order of the Municipal Court, then the Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Officer shall notify the Borough Administrator of such circumstance.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the Borough Administrator, or the Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Officer if so designated by the Administrator, to cause any work to be performed or any actions to occur, either by qualified Borough personnel or private contractors, which would satisfy the notice of violation and order to cease, desist, remediate, and/or abate and bring the property into compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
C. 
The cost of said work shall be charged against the property owner, and the amount so charged shall become a lien upon the property and its owner. Said amount shall be added to and become a part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon the property, and the same shall bear interest at the same rate as taxes.
D. 
The Mayor and Borough Council shall adopt a resolution directing that the cost shall be charged against the property and shall cause a certified copy of such resolution to be delivered to the Tax Collector, who shall collect such taxes at the time of collection of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon the property.
Whenever the Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Officer finds that an emergency exists on a property which requires immediate attention to protect the public health or safety, the Officer may, without notice, issue an order declaring the existence of such an emergency and requiring that such action be taken as deemed necessary to abate the emergency. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, such orders shall be effective immediately. The costs of any such actions necessary to abate the emergency shall be the responsibility of the property's owner and shall be assessed and collected in the same manner as outlined in the "action upon noncompliance" provision of this chapter.