[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Riverside 7-2-1990 by Ord. No. 790. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Numbering of buildings — See Ch. 107.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 125.
Fire insurance claims — See Ch. 156.
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.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
If any structure or premises is reported by the Borough Engineer or other designated engineer as provided in § 111-3 of this chapter to be in an unsafe condition, the Chief of Police shall forthwith cause written notice to be served upon the owner of such structure or premises. Such notice shall set forth the findings of the Borough Engineer or designated engineer and shall require the owner of such structure or premises to commence such repair or removal within 30 days thereof; provided, however, that in any case where the notice prescribes the repair of any structure, the owner shall have the option to remove such structure instead of making the repair thereof within the said time limit.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
The notice required by this chapter shall be served personally upon the owner of a structure or premises, if such owner resides in the Borough, or upon the agent of such owner, if such agent has a residence or place of business within the Borough. If neither the owner nor the agent thereof can be served within the Borough as hereby provided, such notice shall be sent to the owner of such structure or premises by registered mail at his/her last known address.
A. 
An owner shall have the right of appeal as follows: An owner shall have the privilege, within the thirty-day interval set forth in § 111-4 above, to file with the Borough Council at the Municipal Building a written request to the Borough Council of the Borough of Riverside, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, to be heard at a special meeting of the Borough Council, and at said meeting, said owner shall be allowed to present any defense he/she may have.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
If after said hearing by Borough Council and the Mayor, sitting as an Appeal Board, a majority of Borough Council and the Mayor, present at said meeting, sustain the recommendations of the Borough Engineer or designated engineer, then said owner shall be subject to any or all of the penalties herein set forth, and said owner shall, within 30 days from the date of said meeting, repair or remove said structure. The Borough Engineer or designated engineer shall at this time file charges with the Magisterial District Judge.
C. 
If a majority of the Council and the Mayor, present at said meeting, shall overrule the recommendations of the Borough Engineer or designated engineer, then the owner shall not be subject to any of the penalty conditions of this chapter. At said appeal hearing, anyone may appear for or against the unsafe structure.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
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.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
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.