[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee (now Township Council) of the Township of Pohatcong 6-12-1979. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform Construction Codes — See Ch. 112.
The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this chapter, shall have the following respective meanings for the purpose of this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
BUILDING
Any building or structure or part thereof, whether used for human habitation or otherwise, and includes any outhouses and appurtenances belonging thereto or usually enjoyed therewith.
PARTIES IN INTEREST
All individuals, associations and corporations who have interests of record in a building and any who are in actual possession thereof.
PUBLIC OFFICER
The Construction Code Official or Deputy Construction Code Official or any other officer authorized by the Township Committee[1] to exercise the powers prescribed by this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Now Township Council.
The Construction Code Official or Deputy Construction Code Official of the Township of Pohatcong are hereby designated as the officers to exercise the powers prescribed by this chapter, subject to the authority of the Township Committee,[1] and they shall serve in such capacity without any additional salary.
[1]
Editor's Note: Now Township Council.
For the purpose of this chapter, the Construction Code Official or the Deputy Construction Code Official may determine that a building is unfit for human habitation if he finds that conditions exist in such building which are dangerous or injurious to the health or safety of the occupants of such building, the occupants of neighboring buildings or other residents of the Township of Pohatcong. Such conditions may include the following without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
A. 
Defects therein which increase the hazards of fire, accident or other calamities.
B. 
Lack of adequate ventilation, light or sanitary facilities.
C. 
Dilapidation, disrepair, structural defects or uncleanliness.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:49-5.1, the Building Code Ordinances, Fire Prevention Code Ordinances and Health Ordinances and the rules and regulations issued thereunder, along with the Uniform Construction Code of the State of New Jersey,[1] are adopted by the Township of Pohatcong as establishing standards to be used as a guide in determining the fitness of a building for human habitation, occupancy or use. Copies of the foregoing are on file in the office of the Township Clerk and are available to all persons desiring to use and examine the same.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 112, Construction Codes, Uniform.
Whenever a petition is filed with the Construction Code Official or his Deputy, by a public authority, as defined in N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.4, or by at least five residents of the municipality, charging that any building is unfit for human habitation as herein defined, or whenever it appears to the Construction Code Official or his Deputy, on their own motion, that any building is unfit for human habitation, as herein defined, he shall, if his preliminary investigation discloses a basis for such charge, issue and cause to be served upon the owner and parties in interest in such building a complaint stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice that a hearing will be held at a designated time and place, not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days after the serving of said complaint, that the owner and parties in interest shall be given the right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear in person or by their attorney and give testimony at the time and place fixed in the complaint and that the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law and equity shall not be controlling in such hearings.
Complaints or orders issued by the Construction Code Official or his Deputy pursuant to this chapter shall be served upon persons either personally or by registered mail, but if the whereabouts of such person is unknown, and the same cannot be ascertained by such Construction Code Official or his Deputy in the exercise of reasonable diligence, and said Construction Official shall make an affidavit to that effect, then the serving of such complaint or order upon such person may be made by publishing the same, once each week for two consecutive weeks, in a newspaper printed and published in the County of Warren and circulated in the Township of Pohatcong. A copy of such complaint or order shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises affected by the complaint or order, and a copy of such complaint or order shall be duly recorded or lodged for record with the County Clerk of Warren County.
A. 
If, after such notice and hearing, the Construction Code Official or his Deputy determines that the building under consideration is unfit for human habitation, as herein defined, he shall state, in writing, his findings of fact and shall serve the same upon the owner thereof, and parties in interest, requiring:
(1) 
The repair, alteration or improvement of said building to be made by the owner within a reasonable time, which time shall be set forth in the order, or at the option of the owner, to vacate or to have the said building vacated and closed within the time set forth in the order.
(2) 
If the building is in such condition as to make it dangerous to the health and safety of persons on or near the premises, and the owner fails to repair, alter or improve said building within the time specified in the order, that the owner remove or demolish said building within a reasonable time as specified in said order of removal.
(3) 
That if the owner fails to comply with the order to repair, alter or improve, or at the option of the owner to vacate and close the building, the Construction Code Official or his Deputy may cause the building to be repaired, altered or improved, or to be vacated and closed, subject to the approval of the Township Committee.[1] A placard with the following words may be posted on the main entrance of any building so closed: "This building is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use. The use or occupation of this building is prohibited and unlawful."
[1]
Editor's Note: Now Township Council.
(4) 
If the owner fails to comply with an order to remove or demolish the building, the Construction Code Official or his Deputy may, subject to the approval of the Township Committee, cause such building to be removed or demolished or may contract for the removal or demolition thereof, after advertisement and bids in accordance with the Local Public Contracts Law.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.
B. 
The amount of the cost of the filing of legal papers, expert witnesses fees, search fees and advertising costs incurred in the course of any proceeding taken under this chapter, determined in favor of the municipality, and the cost of such repairs, alterations or improvements or vacating and closing or removal and demolition, if any, or the amount of the balance thereof remaining after the deduction of the sum, if any, realized from the sale of materials derived from such building, or from any contract for removal or demolition thereof, shall be a municipal lien against the real property upon which such cost was incurred. If the building is removed or demolished by the Construction Code Official or his Deputy, he shall sell the materials of such building by public bid. There shall be credited against the cost of the removal or demolition thereof the proceeds of any sale of such materials or of any sum derived from any contract for the removal of or demolition of the building. If there are no such credits or if the sum total of such costs exceeds the total of such credits, a detailed statement of the aforesaid costs and the amount so due shall be filed with the Municipal Tax Assessor and other custodian of the records of tax liens, and a copy thereof shall be served forthwith upon the owner, or other person in interest, by registered mail. If the total of the credits exceeds such cost, the balance remaining shall be deposited in the Superior Court by the Construction Code Official or his Deputy and shall be secured in such manner as may be directed by such Court and shall be disbursed according to the order or judgment of the Court to the persons found to be entitled thereto by the judgment of said Court; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed to impair or limit, in any way, the powers of the municipality to define and declare nuisances and to cause their removal or abatement by summary proceedings or otherwise. Any owner or party in interest may, within 60 days from the date of the filing of the lien certificate, proceed in a summary manner in the Superior Court to contest the reasonableness of the amount or the accuracy of the costs set forth in the municipal lien certificate.
The Construction Code Official or his Deputy is hereby authorized and empowered to exercise such powers as may be necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter, including the following, in addition to others herein granted:
A. 
To investigate the building conditions in the Township of Pohatcong in order to determine which buildings therein are unfit for human habitation.
B. 
To enter upon premises for the purpose of making an examination, provided that such entries shall be made in such a manner as to cause the least possible inconvenience to the persons in possession.
C. 
To delegate any of his functions and powers under this chapter to such officers and agents as he may designate.
A. 
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abrogate or impair the powers of the courts or of the municipality, or any officer thereof, to enforce any provisions of other ordinances or regulations or to prevent or punish violations thereof. The powers conferred by this chapter shall be in addition to and supplemental to the powers conferred upon the municipality by any other law or ordinances.
B. 
If a provision of this chapter is found to be in conflict with a provision of a zoning, building, fire, health, or other law, ordinance or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, the provision or requirement which is more restrictive or which establishes the highest standard shall apply.