Source: https://ecode360.com/11761731
Timestamp: 2020-07-16 14:23:00
Document Index: 239995233

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 55', '§ 55', '§ 55', '§ 55', '§ 55', '§ 55', '§ 55', '§ 55', '§ 55', '§ 55']

Town of Ellicott, NY Buildings and Structures, Unsafe
§ 55-2.1 Identification and addressing.
§ 55-3 Investigation and report.
§ 55-4 Order to repair or remove; hearing; costs and expenses; time limits.
§ 55-5 Contents of notice.
§ 55-6 Service and filing of notice.
§ 55-7 Hearing.
§ 55-8 Failure to comply.
§ 55-9 Costs assessed; collection; special proceeding.
§ 55-10 Emergency cases.
Chapter 55 Buildings and Structures, Unsafe
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Ellicott 9-19-2016 by L.L. No. 4-2016.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
Property maintenance — See Ch. 56.
Editor's Note: This local law also repealed former Ch. 55, Buildings, Unsafe, adopted 2-25-1976 as part of L.L. No. 1-1976.
Unsafe buildings and collapsed structures pose a threat to life, health, and property in the Town of Ellicott. Buildings and structures may become unsafe by reason of damage by fire, or other causality damage, the elements, age or general deterioration. Vacant buildings not properly secured at doorways and windows are nuisances and serve as a congregation area for vagrants, the homeless, the mentally incompetent and children who may be injured therein. A dilapidated building or collapsed structure may also serve as a place of rodent infestation and thereby create a health menace to the community. Debris, rubble or parts of buildings left on the ground or in disrepair and not removed constitute a dangerous, unhealthy and unsightly condition. It is the purpose of this chapter to provide for the safety, health, protection and general welfare of the people and property in the Town of Ellicott by requiring such unsafe buildings to be repaired or demolished and removed.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings as indicated.
Any building, structure or portion thereof used for residential, business, industrial, recreational, agricultural or any other purpose.
The Code Enforcement Officer of the Town of Ellicott or such other person appointed by the Town Council to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
Any debris, rubble or parts of buildings which remain on the ground or on the premises after demolition, reconstruction, fire, collapse or other casualty.
Any building or structure or portion thereof which, because of its structural condition, is or may become dangerous or unsafe to the public, and may include, without limitation, any or all of the following:
Units consisting of debris, rubble or parts of the building left on the ground after demolition, reconstruction, fire, collapse or other casualty; and/or
Units presenting any other danger to health, safety, morals and general welfare of the public.
Unsafe buildings and structures in this Town shall be identified and addressed in accordance with the following procedures.
When, in the opinion of the Code Enforcement Officer or a New York State licensed engineer hired by the Town of Ellicott, any building or structure located in the Town of Ellicott shall be deemed to be dangerous or unsafe to the public as defined in this chapter, the Code Enforcement Officer or engineer shall make a formal inspection thereof and report, in writing, to the Town Council his or her findings and recommendations in regard to the building's or structure's removal or repair.
The Town Council shall thereupon consider the report, and, if it finds that such building or structure is dangerous and unsafe to the public, it shall, by resolution, order its repair if the same can be safely repaired and, if not, its removal and demolition and shall further order that a hearing be held before the Town Council, at a time and place therein specified and on at least five days' notice to the owner of the building or structure or persons having an interest therein, to determine whether said order to repair or remove shall be affirmed or modified or vacated and, in the event of modification or affirmance, to assess all costs and expenses incurred by the Town in the repair or removal of such building or structure against the land on which said building or structure is located. Said order shall also provide that the securing or removal of said building or structure shall commence within 30 days after service of notice and shall be completed within 60 days thereafter.
That the securing or removal of said building or structure shall commence within 30 days of the service of the notice and shall be completed within 60 days thereafter.
The time and place of the hearing to be held before the Town Council, at which hearing the owner or occupant shall have the right to contest the order and findings of the Town Council.
That in the event that such owner, occupant, or other person having an interest in said premises shall fail to contest such order and fail to comply with the same, the Town Council will order the repair or removal of such building or structure by the Town and that the Town will assess all costs and expenses incurred in such removal against the land on which such building or structure is located.
A copy of the notice issued by the Town Council shall be personally served upon the owner of some one of the owners executors, legal representatives, agents, lessees or other person having a vested interest or contingent interest in the premises as shown by the collector of taxes and/or in the office of the Chautauqua County Clerk or Chautauqua County Treasurer.
If no such person can be reasonably found for personal service, then a copy of the notice shall be mailed to such person by certified mail, addressed to the last known address as shown on said records, and by personally serving a copy of said notice upon any adult person residing in or occupying the premises or by securely affixing a copy of said notice upon the building or structure.
A copy of the notice shall be filed in the Chautauqua County Clerk's office in the same manner as a notice of pendency pursuant to Article 65 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules and shall have the same effect as a notice of pendency as therein provided. A notice so filed shall be effective for a period of one year from date of filing. It may be vacated, however, upon an order of judge or justice of a court of record or upon the consent of the Town Attorney. When vacated, the Chautauqua County Clerk shall mark such notice and any record or docket thereof as cancelled of record upon the presentation and filing of such consent or of a certified copy of such order.
The Town Council conducts the public hearing, at the time and place specified in the notice to repair or remove, and may adjourn the hearing from time to time until all interested parties are heard and until the hearing is completed. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Town Council shall determine, by resolution, to:
Revoke the order to repair or remove;
Modify the order; or
Continue and affirm said order and direct the owner or other persons to complete the work within the time specified in the order or by such other time as shall be determined by the Town Council.
If the owner or person notified fails or neglects to comply with the order of the Town Council within the specified time in the order made following the public hearing, the Town Council may provide, by resolution, that such buildings or structures be made safe and secure or removed and demolished by Town employees, by independent contractors, or by other lawful means available to the Town.
All costs incurred by the Town in enforcing this chapter shall be recoverable from the owner of the premises deemed unsafe or dangerous hereunder. Such costs hereunder shall include, but not be limited to, the following.
Actual attorney fees and disbursements for services rendered with or without the commencement of litigation.
Actual engineering fees and disbursements, including the cost of the Town's Code Enforcement Officer.
Actual costs of securing, demolishing, removing or repairing the building or structure deemed unsafe or dangerous.
Costs of serving and/or publishing notices.
Costs of title and tax searches.
The costs incurred in enforcing this chapter shall be added to the next assessment roll for the Town of Ellicott taxes against the tax parcel(s) which include the unsafe or dangerous building or structure involved and shall be collected and enforced in the same manner as other taxes for that parcel(s).
In addition to any other remedies herein, the Town of Ellicott may commence a special proceeding under Article 4 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules in a court of competent jurisdiction to collect the costs incurred by the Town of Ellicott in enforcing this chapter. Should the Town of Ellicott recover and be paid said costs through such a proceeding (and after costs have been added to the assessment rolls), the assessment roll and tax records shall be adjusted accordingly to properly credit amounts so paid and recovered.
Where it reasonably appears that a building or structure presents a clear and imminent danger to the life, safety or health of any person or property, unless such building or structure is immediately repaired and secured or demolished by its owner or occupant, the Town Council may, by resolution, authorize the Code Enforcement Officer or a New York State licensed engineer to immediately cause the repair or demolition of such unsafe building or structure. The expenses of such repair or demolition shall be a charge against the land on which it is located and shall be assessed, levied and collected as provided in § 55-9 hereof.