[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Cohoes: Art.
I, 7-24-1990 by L.L. No. 3-1990. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 7-24-1990 by L.L. No. 3-1990]
As used in this article, any inconsistent provisions of law notwithstanding,
the following terms shall have the following meanings:
City Treasurer.
Any unpaid tax, special ad valorem levy, special assessment or other
charge imposed upon real property by or on behalf of the city or special district,
which is an encumbrance on real property and which has remained undischarged
for a period of one year or more.
Any property upon which there is erected any residential, commercial
or industrial building or structure.
A lien upon fire insurance proceeds pursuant to this article and
§ 22 of the General Municipal Law.
The City Treasurer shall file a notice of intention to claim against
the proceeds of fire insurance policies with the State Superintendent of Insurance
for entry in the Index of Tax Districts in accordance with § 22
of the General Municipal Law, the New York State Insurance Law and all rules
and regulations promulgated by the New York State Department of Insurance
with respect to this procedure.
Prior to the payment of any proceeds of a policy of insurance for damages
caused by fire to real property, which policy insures the interest of an owner
and is issued on real property located within the city, and following notification
to the enforcing officer by an insurer of the filing of a claim for payment
of such proceeds, the enforcing officer shall claim, by serving a certificate
of lien, against such proceeds to the extent of any lien, including interest
and penalties to the date of the claim thereon, which claims, when made and
perfected in the manner provided for in § 22 of the General Municipal
Law and § 331 of the Insurance Law, shall constitute a special lien
against such proceeds and shall, as to such proceeds, be prior to all other
liens and claims except the claim of a mortgagee of record named in such policy.
Notice of the service of the certificate of the special lien shall be given
to the insured by certified mail.
The provisions of this article shall not be deemed or construed to alter
or impair the right of the city to acquire or enforce any lien against property
but shall be in addition to any other power provided by law to acquire or
enforce such right.
Whenever the proceeds of a policy of fire insurance which will be or has been paid to the city instead of an insured, all or part of such proceeds may be paid or released to the insured if the insured satisfies to the enforcing officer that the affected premises have been or will be repaired or restored, that such repairs or restoration are in the public interest and that the insured is issued and complies with an agreement entered into pursuant to this article. To secure such payment or release of proceeds, the insured must notify the office of the City Treasurer within 45 days after the mailing to the insured of a notice of the service of the certificate of special lien pursuant to § 175-3 of this article of the intention to restore or repair the affected premises and must file with the enforcing officer a completed application with all required supporting documentation pursuant to § 175-6 of this article within 60 days thereafter, unless the enforcing officer grants an extension for a stated period of time.
The release or return to the insured of any amounts to which he or it
would otherwise be entitled to claim shall be subject to the following conditions:
A.
Such release or return shall be subject to the repair
or restoration of the affected premises, in accordance with applicable building
laws, to the condition it was in prior to the time the lien of the city arose
or to an improved condition.
B.
The insured shall file with the enforcing officer an
application in affidavit form with such supporting documentation as the enforcing
officer shall require containing the following:
(1)
A complete description of the nature and extent of the
damage to the insured premises and of the condition of the premises prior
to the time the lien of the city arose.
(2)
A complete description of the nature of the repairs or
restoration to be undertaken and the cost thereof.
(3)
A statement as to the source of funds needed to complete
such repairs or restoration if the insurance proceeds are not sufficient therefor.
(4)
The name and address of each contractor who will effect
such repairs or restoration.
(5)
An estimated time schedule showing how long the repairs
or restoration and each phase thereof will take.
(6)
Such other information as may be required by the enforcing
officer to enable him to determine whether the repairs or restoration are
in the public interest and will be or have been timely and properly made.
C.
Upon preliminary approval of an application by the City
Treasurer and the Building Inspector, the enforcing officer may enter into
a written agreement with the insured, which shall set forth the terms and
conditions for the release and return of all or part of the proceeds, and
the enforcing officer is hereby authorized to enter into such agreement on
behalf of the city.
D.
The repairs or restoration required by the enforcing
officer shall be completed in compliance with the terms and conditions of
the agreement prior to the release or return of any part of the insurance
proceeds; provided, however, that the enforcing officer may, upon the written
request of the insured and in his sole discretion, approve a prior release
of such proceeds or a portion thereof in a lump sum or in installments, where
the insured certifies and demonstrates that such release is required to permit
such repairs or restoration to go forward. Any such insurance proceeds released
or returned prior to the completion of the repairs or restoration required
by the enforcing officer may be paid directly to the contractor or contractors
responsible for making such repairs or restoration. Such payment shall, to
the extent thereof, release the enforcing officer from further liability to
the insured.
E.
Whenever the enforcing officer releases the entire amount
of the proceeds prior to compliance with the terms and conditions of the agreement,
the insured shall post a bond in an amount sufficient to assume the restoration
or improvement of the property.
If the insured fails to notify the city of his or its intention to repair or restore the affected premises as required in § 175-5 of this article or fails to file a completed application pursuant to this article or fails to enter an agreement with the enforcing officer or comply therewith within the time set forth, the right of the insured to assert a claim against the insurance proceeds, except to the extent they exceed the amount of the lien, shall terminate.
There shall be established in the office of the City Treasurer a fund
for the deposit of fire insurance proceeds to be held and applied in accordance
with this article. Such funds shall not be held together with the general
tax levies in the general fund.
Until such termination, any insurance proceeds received by the city
shall be deposited in a special fund and shall be retained therein. Upon termination
of the insured's right to claim against the proceeds, the proceeds and
any interest accrued thereon shall be applied to the liens affecting the premises
in a manner to be determined by the enforcing officer and may be transferred
to the general fund.
The lien or liens against the affected premises upon which the special
lien against proceeds is based shall continue in full force and effect, except
to the extent that such lien or liens are or have been paid.
Any agreement entered into by the enforcing officer pursuant to this
article shall be for the purpose of preserving and evidencing the right of
release of the special lien created by this article and shall be subject solely
to the provisions of this article. Any repair or restoration performed in
anticipation of a release of insurance proceeds shall not be deemed to be
a public work or municipal project nor to have been done pursuant to a municipal
contract.
The enforcing officer shall be empowered to promulgate rules and regulations
and to adopt approved forms to be used by applicants.
