It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Town of Ossining to protect
property and life from fire hazards and health hazards and to provide for
the proper use of land so as to prevent unhealthful, hazardous or dangerous
conditions due to the accumulation of brush, grass, rubbish, weeds, debris
or other material. By this law the Town Board seeks to regulate the removal
and prevention of such dangers to health, life and property by requiring the
owners of land to cut, trim or remove such hazards and, upon default thereof,
by causing the same to be done by the municipality and assessing the costs
against the real properties involved.
In the event that the Town Board determines that there exists such brush,
grass, rubbish, weeds, debris or other material which constitutes a fire,
health or safety hazard as described above, the Town Board shall direct the
Building Inspector to give written notice to the owner of such real property
to spray, remove, cut or trim the same as may be necessary to remove such
hazard. Such notice shall be given in writing by certified mail, return receipt
requested, to the owner of such property at the owner's last known address
as appears on the latest assessment roll of the Town of Ossining. The notice
shall direct that such hazard be removed within 15 days of the mailing of
such notice.
In the event that the owner of such real property fails to comply with
said notice and to remove the hazard, the Town Board may authorize the Town
Highway Department or such other person, department or independent contractor
as it shall deem appropriate to remove, cut, spray or trim such brush, grass,
rubbish, weeds, debris or other material causing the hazard, charging the
total cost thereof to the owner of such real property, which cost shall be
assessed and shall constitute a lien and charge on the real property on which
it is levied until paid or otherwise satisfied or discharged, and the same
shall be collected in the same manner and at the same time as other town charges.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply within the property lines
of any lands or highway easements or right-of-way owned by another municipal
corporation or political subdivision of the State of New York.