The Health Department shall order rodent extermination measures that
are necessary to protect the public health. When ordered by the enforcing
agent of the Health Department, such owner, agent, tenant or person in possession
of any land shall take measures to exterminate rodents and shall remove or
prevent any suspected rodent harborage.
Whenever it appears to the enforcing agent of the Health Department,
after an inspection, that rodent extermination measures are necessary to protect
the public health, said enforcing agent shall serve upon the owner, agent
or person in control of the land a written notice indicating that rodent extermination
measures are necessary.
The notice shall be served upon the owner, agent or person in control
either personally or by registered or certified mail, but if the whereabouts
of the person are unknown and cannot be ascertained in the exercise of reasonable
diligence, and the enforcement agent shall make an affidavit to that effect,
then the serving of such notice may be made by certified mail, return receipt
requested, to the last known mailing address. In the event that such notice
which is sent certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known
mailing address is unclaimed, the enforcing agent may post such notice on
the property.
The enforcing agent shall have the discretion to determine the time
limit for such necessary abatement measures to effectively exterminate the
rodent problem necessary to protect public health.
If the owner, tenant or person in possession of the land in question
refuses or neglects to abate or remedy the condition complained of within
the time prescribed by the enforcing agent after receipt or posting of the
notice, the enforcing agent shall notify the Public Works Superintendent to
cause the condition to be abated and remedied and certify the cost thereof
to the Township Committee, who shall examine the certificate and, if found
correct, cause the costs as shown thereon to be charged against the lands.
The amount so charged shall become a lien upon such lands and shall be added
to and become and form a part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied
upon such lands, the same to bear interest at the same rate as taxes, which
shall be collected and enforced by the same officer and in the same manner
as taxes. Costs shall be in addition to any penalties imposed for a violation
of this chapter.
Any violation of the provisions of this chapter, upon conviction, shall
be punishable by a fine of not less than five dollars ($5.) nor more than
five hundred dollars ($500.).