(A) (1) The Chief Building Code Official, or his or her designee, shall perform periodic inspections, subject to Town Council's directions, for vacant buildings within the town's planning jurisdiction which may constitute a violation of this chapter.
(2) In exercising this power, Building Code Officials shall have a right to enter on any premises at all reasonable hours for the purposes of inspection, upon presentation of proper credentials.
(B) When a Building Code Official finds a blighted property in violation of this chapter, it shall be his or her duty to issue and cause to be served upon the property owner a complaint, stating the conditions present which have resulted in this action, and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the Code Official in the Development Services Office, not less then ten days nor more than 30 days after serving of a complaint.
(1) The complaints shall be served upon owners either personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(2) The failure of the property owner to accept or claim a complaint sent by certified mail shall not prevent further action under this section, but will be presumed to have been received three days after the complaint is deposited in the United States mail.
(3) The hearing shall provide the owner a right to file an answer to the complaint, and to appear in person to give testimony, at the place and time fixed in the complaint.
(C) If, after the notice and hearing, the Inspector determines that a vacant building constitutes a blighted property in violation of this chapter, he or she shall state his or her findings in a written notice of violation.
(1) The notice shall be served upon owners either personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested, and contain a written order to cause the property to be repaired, improved or demolished as necessary to abate the violation within a specified time period, not to exceed 60 days.
(2) The failure of the property owner to accept or claim a notice of violation sent by certified mail shall not prevent further action under this section, but will be presumed to have been received three days after the notice is deposited in the United States mail.
(D) Any owner who is aggrieved with the Code Official's decision may file an appeal to the Town Council, by giving notice of appeal in writing to the Code Official and to the Town Clerk within ten days following issuance of the notice of violation.
(1) The Town Council shall hear and render a decision in an appeal within a reasonable time period.
(2) The Town Council may affirm, modify and affirm, or revoke the order.
(E) It shall be unlawful for the owner of any building to fail, neglect, or refuse to repair, improve or demolish blighted properties upon order of the Code Official duly made and served, as herein provided, within the time period specified in the notice of violation.
(Ord. passed 8-17-2006)