The purpose of this article is to provide basic
and uniform administration of and compliance with applicable Housing
Standards and to establish the responsibilities of parties concerned
therewith.
This article shall apply to administration of
and compliance with applicable Housing Standards.
This article shall not apply to premises which
are not within the scope of applicable Housing Standards.
A.
Administrative agency.
(1)
The Department of Housing of the Village is hereby
designated as the agency to administer and secure compliance with
the applicable Housing Standards. Such Department is hereinafter referred
to as "the agency."
(2)
The agency shall be under the direction and charge
of the Housing Inspector who shall have, as his representatives, such
assistants and inspectors as may be necessary to carry out effectively
the powers and duties of the agency.
(3)
All personnel of the agency shall be qualified and
appointed as prescribed by law and shall be furnished with appropriate
official badges or identification cards.
B.
All personnel of the agency shall be free from personal
liability for acts done in good faith in the performance of their
official duties.
A.
The agency shall be charged with the duty of administering
the applicable Housing Standards and securing compliance therewith
and shall be empowered to adopt rules and regulations necessary for
securing such compliance and for its own organization and internal
management, provided that such rules and regulations shall not be
in conflict with the applicable Housing Standards.
B.
The agency shall be authorized to conduct surveys
of housing in any area of the Village to determine the condition of
premises, extent of deterioration, lack of facilities, inadequate
maintenance, unsafe and insanitary conditions, extent of overcrowding,
land use and other relevant factors.
C.
It shall be the duty of the Housing Inspector to:
(1)
Cause periodic inspections to be made of premises
within the scope of applicable housing standards.
(2)
Cause an investigation of all complaints of alleged
housing violations or other unsafe or unsanitary conditions.
(3)
Order, in writing, the remedying of all conditions
found to exist in or on any premises in violation of provisions of
the Housing Standards or of rules and regulations adopted by the agency;
to state in the violation order a reasonable time limit for compliance
therewith; and where necessary, to order the vacating of premises
found unfit for human habitation.
(4)
Cause a search of the agency's records of housing
violations existing on any premises and to issue a certified statement
thereof upon receipt of written request and payment of any fees required
by local law or ordinance.
(5)
Study housing conditions in the Village.
(6)
Cooperate with other municipal, governmental and private
agencies engaged in the study and improvement of housing conditions.
(7)
Make an annual report of housing conditions in the
Village, accomplishments of the agency and recommendations for the
future.
D.
Where violations of the Housing Standards exist and
pose an immediate hazard or danger to the health, safety or welfare
of building occupants or of the public, the Housing Inspector may
issue an order citing the violation and directing such action by such
other Village agency as is necessary to remove or abate the immediate
hazard or danger.
A.
Inspectors shall be authorized and have the right,
in the performance of their duties, to enter any premises during normal
business hours and in emergencies, whenever necessary to protect the
public interest.
B.
Owners, agents, operators and occupants shall be responsible
for providing access to all parts of the premises within their control
to authorized agency personnel acting in the performance of their
duties.
The agency shall keep records of all complaints
received, inspections made and violations found regarding premises
regulated by the Housing Standards. Records shall be kept and shall
be available for public inspection.
A.
A violation order may be served either personally
or by delivering to and leaving a copy thereof with the person to
whom such order is directed, or if the person to whom such order is
directed cannot be found within the Village of Great Neck after diligent
search shall have been made for him, then such order may be served
by posting a copy thereof in a conspicuous place on the premises where
such violation is alleged to exist or to which said order may refer
and also depositing a copy thereof in a post office, branch post office
or a post office box legally maintained by the Government of the United
States in Great Neck, New York, enclosed in a sealed, post-paid wrapper
addressed to said person at his last known place of residence.
B.
A violation order may be served by any officer or
employee of the Village or by any other person designated or authorized
by the Board of Trustees of the Village.
A.
Every person who shall fail to comply with any provision
of this chapter shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter.
B.
Every person who shall fail to comply with a violation
order issued by the agency within the time stated in said order shall
be guilty of a violation of this chapter.
