The purpose of this chapter is to promote and
protect the public health, safety and general welfare and generally
promote harmonious, peaceful, safe and comfortable neighborhood life
by eliminating or making repairs to unsafe structures.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
UNSAFE STRUCTURE
All buildings that are unsanitary or deficient in adequate
exit facilities or which constitute a fire hazard or are otherwise
dangerous to human life or the public welfare or which involve illegal
or improper use, occupancy or maintenance shall be deemed unsafe buildings
or structures.
Whenever it shall be reported to the Borough
Council of Riverside that any structure, completed or in process of
construction, or any portion thereof, is in an unsafe condition, the
Borough Engineer or other designated engineer shall immediately cause
a thorough investigation and examination to be made of such structure
or premises. If such investigation and examination indicates such
structure or premises to be unsafe in any respect, the Borough Engineer
or designated engineer shall report, in writing, to the Riverside
Police Department, specifying the exact aspect he/she considers of
such structure or premises to be unsafe and, if so, should be repaired
or removed as an unsafe structure.
If the owner of any unsafe structure, to whom
or which a notice to repair or remove such structure shall be sent
under the provisions of this chapter, fails to appeal or to commence
or to complete such repair or removal within the time limit prescribed
by such notice, he/she shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter
and, upon conviction thereof before a Magisterial District Judge and
for the Borough of Riverside, Pennsylvania, shall be sentenced to
pay a fine of not more than $1,000 for each day's violation, plus
the costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment of such fine
and costs of prosecution, shall be imprisoned for not more than 30
days, provided that each day's continuance of a violation, after notice,
shall constitute a separate offense.
This remedy is not mutually exclusive and does
not preclude the remedy which the Borough of Riverside may use by
means of a complaint in equity filed in the Court of Common Pleas
to compel the owner to repair or remove such unsafe structure or seek
such other relief as the Court is empowered to afford.