A.
Notice of violation. When the municipality's SMO finds
that a person has violated a prohibition or failed to meet a requirement
of this Part 1, he/she may order compliance by written notice of violation
to the responsible person. Such notice may require without limitation:
(1)
The elimination of illicit connections or discharges;
(2)
That violating discharges, practices, or operations
shall cease and desist;
(3)
The abatement or remediation of stormwater pollution
or contamination hazards and the restoration of any affected property;
(4)
The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;
(5)
Payment of a fine; and
(6)
The implementation of source control or treatment
BMPs. If abatement of a violation and/or restoration of affected property
is required, the notice shall set forth a deadline within which such
remediation or restoration must be completed. Said notice shall further
advise that, should the violator fail to remediate or restore within
the established deadline, the work will be done by a designated governmental
agency or a contractor and the expense thereof shall be charged to
the violator.
B.
Penalties. In addition to or as an alternative to
any penalty provided herein or by law, any person who violates the
provisions of this Part 1 shall be guilty of a violation punishable
by a fine not exceeding $350 or imprisonment for a period not to exceed
15 days, or both, for conviction of a first offense; for conviction
of a second offense, both of which were committed within a period
of five years, punishable by a fine not less than $350 nor more than
$700 or imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15 days, or both;
and upon conviction for a third or subsequent offense, all of which
were committed within a period of five years, punishable by a fine
not less than $700 nor more than $1,000 or imprisonment for a period
not to exceed 15 days, or both. However, for the purposes of conferring
jurisdiction upon courts and judicial officers generally, violations
of this Part 1 shall be deemed misdemeanors and, for such purpose
only, all provisions of law relating to misdemeanors shall apply to
such violations. Each day's continued violation shall constitute a
separate additional violation.
[Amended 2-25-2009 by L.L. No. 3-2009]
Any person receiving a notice of violation may
appeal the determination of the SMO to the Town Board within 15 days
of its issuance, which shall hear the appeal within 30 days after
the filing of the appeal, and, within five days of making its decision,
file its decision in the office of the municipal clerk and mail a
copy of its decision by certified mail to the discharger.
A.
If the violation has not been corrected pursuant to
the requirements set forth in the notice of violation or, in the event
of an appeal, within five business days of the decision of the municipal
authority upholding the decision of the SMO, then the SMO shall request
the owner's permission for access to the subject private property
to take any and all measures reasonably necessary to abate the violation
and/or restore the property.
B.
If refused access to the subject private property,
the SMO may seek a warrant in a court of competent jurisdiction to
be authorized to enter upon the property to determine whether a violation
has occurred. Upon determination that a violation has occurred, the
SMO may seek a court order to take any and all measures reasonably
necessary to abate the violation and/or restore the property. The
cost of implementing and maintaining such measures shall be the sole
responsibility of the discharger.
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate
any provision or fail to comply with any of the requirements of this
Part 1. If a person has violated or continues to violate the provisions
of this Part 1, the SMO may petition for a preliminary or permanent
injunction restraining the person from activities which would create
further violations or compelling the person to perform abatement or
remediation of the violation.
A.
Where a person has violated a provision of this Part
1, he/she may be eligible for alternative remedies in lieu of a civil
penalty, upon recommendation of the Municipal Attorney and concurrence
of the Municipal Code Enforcement Officer, where:
In addition to the enforcement processes and
penalties provided, any condition caused or permitted to exist in
violation of any of the provisions of this Part 1 is a threat to public
health, safety, and welfare, and is declared and deemed a nuisance,
and may be summarily abated or restored at the violator's expense,
and/or a civil action to abate, enjoin, or otherwise compel the cessation
of such nuisance may be taken.
The remedies listed in this Part 1 are not exclusive
of any other remedies available under any applicable federal, state
or local law, and it is within the discretion of the authorized enforcement
agency to seek cumulative remedies.
