The intent of this chapter is to protect the public health, safety and
welfare by eliminating physical conditions in or on buildings and structures
which constitute nuisances and are thereby potentially dangerous or hazardous
to the life, health or safety of persons on or near the premises where such
conditions exist, as well as to prevent the creation, continuation, extension
or aggravation of blight which affects the image and economic welfare of the
community. This chapter provides for the designation of buildings or structures
as hazardous and for procedures for the demolition of such buildings and structures.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
HAZARDOUS BUILDING
Any building or structure which meets any or all of the following
criteria:
A.
Unsanitary, constituting a hazard to health or safety because of inadequate
maintenance, dilapidation, neglect or abandonment or because of a lack of
proper sanitation or structurally unsafe or unsound or otherwise dangerous
to persons or property; and/or
B.
Buildings or any part thereof which are in a dilapidated or filthy condition
which may endanger the life or health of persons living in the vicinity, and/or
which constitute a nuisance.
NUISANCE
A.
Any public or private condition that would constitute a nuisance according
to the statutes, laws and regulations of the State of Connecticut, its governmental
agencies or the ordinances of the Town of Wallingford.
B.
Any physical condition in or on any building or structure which is potentially
dangerous, detrimental or hazardous to the life, health or safety of persons
on, near or passing within the proximity of the premises where such condition
exists.
Within 10 days after the order as referenced in §
90-4B(6) is served, the owner, operator, occupant or other party(ies) with an interest in such building or structure may appeal the order, in writing, to the Building Board of Appeals for its review of the order. The Building Board of Appeals shall conduct a hearing on such appeal within 10 days of its filing, and may either deny the appeal or modify, extend or otherwise alter the order.
If the owner, operator, occupant or other party(ies) fails to comply with the order provided for in § 990-4B(6), including such alterations as may result from the appeal process provided in §
90-5, the enforcement officer shall cause such building or structure to be repaired or demolished as the order may warrant and shall notify the Town Attorney's office of the costs of such repairs or demolition, which office shall cause the costs to be charged against the building or structure or the land on which the building or structure existed as a municipal lien, or as a benefit assessment, or to be recovered in a suit against the owner, said costs to include a processing fee of $50 payable to the Town of Wallingford.
The provisions of this chapter shall be supplemental to existing municipal
ordinances dealing with housing and/or public health and shall not limit the
provisions of other local, state or federal codes, regulations or statutes
as they may apply. If any clause or provision of this chapter shall conflict
with any clause or provision of any other ordinance or other local, state
or federal code, regulation or statute, the more stringent provision shall
apply.