Source: https://ecode360.com/10555830
Timestamp: 2020-05-26 05:57:56
Document Index: 573635109

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 115', '§ 115', '§ 115', '§ 115', '§ 115', '§ 115', '§ 115', '§ 115', '§ 115']

Town of Cornwall, NY Property Maintenance
§ 115-3 Duties of owners and occupants.
§ 115-4 Conflicts with other regulations.
§ 115-5 General provisions.
§ 115-6 Administration and enforcement.
§ 115-7 Notice of violation.
§ 115-8 Refusal to comply.
§ 115-9 Assessment of expenses.
§ 115-10 Maintenance required.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Cornwall 6-8-1992 by L.L. No. 4-1992. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Town Board of the Town of Cornwall hereby determines that it is necessary for the public health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the Town of Cornwall to provide regulations whereby properties within the Town are properly maintained and kept free of nuisances, hazards, debris and litter. Further, it is determined that by reason of lack of maintenance resulting in progressive deterioration, certain properties and structures have the further effect of creating blighting conditions leading toward the creation of slum-type areas, and that if the same are not curtailed and removed, the conditions can grow and impact the entire Town. By reason of timely regulations and restrictions, the public health, welfare and safety may be protected and blighted areas may be prevented and the desirability and amenity value of properties maintained and enhanced. The Town Board encourages Town residents to accomplish the goals of this regulation by cooperation between neighbors.
A building or structure on premises within the Town.
Any animal or vegetable refuse or waste matter capable of fermentation or decay; nothing in this chapter shall regulate the application of garbage to land for gardening or farming purposes.
GRAMINEUS VEGETATION
Any vegetation including grass or similar plant life.
[Added 10-8-2002 by L.L. No. 5-2002]
Any condition that would constitute a nuisance according to the statutes, laws and regulations of the State of New York or the regulations and laws of the Town.
Any physical condition existing in or on the exterior of any premises which is potentially dangerous, detrimental or hazardous to the life, health or safety of persons on, near or passing in proximity to the premises where said condition exists.
Any waste material or any other material attractive to vermin or likely to breed disease or which presents a fire hazard, creates offensive odors or otherwise is prejudicial to the good health or is so unsightly of appearance as to be offensive to surrounding properties.
Any person residing, living or sleeping in or on the premises or having actual possession, use or occupancy of the premises or any person or entity in possession of or using any premises or part thereof, whether or not the owner thereof and regardless of the duration of time of such possession, use or occupancy.
Any person, persons or entity having legal or equitable title in any form whatsoever to any premises or part thereof, with or without accompanying actual possession, including persons or entities who have charge, care or control of any premises as agent of the owner or as a fiduciary, trustee, receiver, lessee or mortgagee in possession.
Any individual, partnership, association, firm, corporation or any and all the combinations of individuals acting in concert.
Materials or substances discharged, discarded or rejected as being spent, useless or worthless. Such solid waste shall include but is not limited to garbage, sludge, rubbish, ashes, incinerator residue, street cleanings, dead animals, refuse, abandoned vehicles, agricultural waste, industrial waste, commercial waste and construction and demolition debris; as defined in this chapter, "solid waste" shall not include organic composting.
In furtherance of the purposes of this chapter, it shall be the duty and responsibility of the owner or occupant of premises to comply with the requirements and standards of this chapter to keep the premises free of violations hereof and to promptly remove, prevent or abate any violations.
Owners and occupants shall have all the duties, obligations and responsibilities prescribed in this chapter, and no such person or entity shall be relieved of any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder nor be entitled to assert as a defense against any charge made against him or them for violation of this chapter the fact that another owner, occupant or any other third person is also responsible therefor and in violation thereof.
The provisions of this chapter shall supplement state and local laws, codes or regulations. Where a provision of this chapter is found to be in conflict with a provision of state or local law, code or regulation, the more restrictive provision shall prevail when legally permissible.
Premises shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition free from garbage, nuisances and solid waste, as defined herein.
All fences shall be maintained in a safe and substantial condition by the owner or occupant of the premises upon which the fences are located. Such maintenance shall include but not be limited to painting or staining as needed and the replacement of broken or missing sections of fence which may come into disrepair.
On nonresidential premises, steps, walks, driveways, parking spaces, parking lots and similar paved areas shall be repaired, replaced and maintained so as to be free from holes.
As to buildings:
All exterior exposed surfaces not inherently resistant to deterioration shall be repaired, coated, treated or sealed with a protective coating of paint or other suitable preservative to protect them from deterioration.
All signs exposed to public view shall be maintained in good repair. Inoperative electrical or mechanical signs shall be repaired or removed.
The exterior parts of every building shall be maintained so as to keep water from entering the building. Exterior portions of every building which have been damaged or show evidence of dry rot or other deterioration shall be repaired or replaced and refinished. Exterior walls, gutters, leaders, soffits, cupolas, roofs and other parts of the building shall be free from loose and unsecured objects and materials.
Premises shall be maintained such that no gramineus vegetation shall exceed 12 inches in height from the ground in any required front yard, required rear yard or required side yard as required in the zoning district in which the premises are located.
The Building Inspector of the Town is hereby designated as the officer charged with enforcement of this chapter.
When the Building Inspector has reason to believe that premises or a building is or may be maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter, the Building Inspector shall make an inspection thereof and submit a written report to the Town Board with his findings and recommendations in regard to its repair or the removal of the material and condition maintained in violation of this chapter.
The Town Board shall thereafter consider such report and by resolution determine if, in the Town Board's opinion, the report substantiates that the building or the premises are existing in violation of this chapter, and if so, the Town Board shall order that a notice be served upon the occupant and owner of the premises.
Contents. The notice referred to in the preceding § 115-6 shall contain the following:
A statement of the particulars listing the conditions existing at the premises which are in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
A statement outlining the actions to be taken to correct the violations of this chapter.
An order that the correction of the violations shall commence within 30 days of the service of the notice and shall be completed within 60 days thereafter, unless for good cause shown the time shall be extended by the Town Board.
A date, time and place for a hearing before the Town Board in relation to such violation, which hearing shall be scheduled not fewer than five business days from the date of the service of the notice.
A statement that in the event of refusal to comply with the order to correct the violation of this chapter, the Town Board is authorized to remedy the violation and to assess all expenses of the remedying of the violation against the premises.
Service of notice. The notice shall be served by personal service upon the occupant of the premises and upon the owner of the premises as shown on the latest completed assessment roll of the Town or, if the occupant or owner cannot be reasonably found, by mailing the notice to such occupant or owner by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner's last known address as shown on the latest completed assessment roll of the Town, and by personal service of a copy of such notice upon any person residing in or occupying said premises, if such person can reasonably be found, and by securely affixing a copy of said notice upon the premises. Affidavits of service of the notice shall be filed with the Town Clerk at the hearing.
In the event of the refusal or neglect of the occupant and owner to comply with said order of the Town Board, and after the hearing held by the Town Board, the Town Board may provide for the remedying of the violation either by Town employees or by contract.
All expenses incurred by the Town in connection with the proceedings to remedy the violation of this chapter shall be levied and collected in the same manner as provided in Article 15 of the Town Law for the levy and collection of a special ad valorem levy.
It shall be unlawful for any occupant or owner of premises within the Town to maintain such premises in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
Civil penalty. Any person or entity who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or any order promulgated hereunder shall be subject to a civil penalty enforceable and collectible by the Town in the amount of $100 for each violation. Such penalty shall be collected by and in the name of the Town for each day that such violation shall continue.
Injunction. In addition to the civil penalty provided for above, the Town Board may maintain an action or proceeding in the name of the Town to compel compliance with or restrain the violation of this chapter.