For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BLIGHT ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. A town official and/or employee designated by the Board of Selectmen to enforce this subchapter and to issue citations and/or take other actions he or she deems necessary to compel compliance with it.
BLIGHT HEARING CITATION OFFICER. An official appointed by the Board of Selectmen who is not a town employee who will preside over blight citation hearings, issue decisions and if necessary, convert assessments into judgments in the State Superior Court.
BLIGHTED PREMISES. Any building, structure or parcel of land where at least one of the following conditions exists:
(1) A condition exists that poses a serious or immediate threat to the health, safety or general welfare of the community;
(2) A building or structure is a fire hazard; or
(3) The property is in a state of disrepair or is becoming dilapidated. STATE OF DISREPAIR or BECOMING DILAPIDATED shall mean in a physically deteriorating condition causing unsafe or unsanitary conditions or a nuisance to the general public and be evidenced by one or more of the following conditions:
(a) Missing, broken or boarded up windows and doors longer than six months;
(b) Collapsing or missing exterior walls or roof, or other exterior features including, but not necessarily limited to, stairs, porches, railings, hatchways, chimneys or floors;
(c) Seriously damaged or missing siding or roofing;
(d) Unrepaired fire or water damage longer than six months;
(e) Rodent harborage and/or infestation;
(f) Persistent household garbage or trash on the property;
(g) Abandoned or unused objects such as automobiles, boats and recreation vehicles which are inoperable or unregistered or in an obvious state of disrepair;
(h) Parking lots in excess of ten parking spaces in a state of disrepair or abandonment evidenced, for example, by cracks, potholes, overgrowth of vegetation within the surface, pavement or macadam, or within medians and buffers;
(i) Shrubs, hedges, grass, plants, weeds or any other vegetation that have been left to grow in an unkempt manner that are covering or blocking means of egress or access to any building or that are blocking, interfering with, or otherwise obstructing any sightline, road sign or emergency access to or at the property, when viewed from any property line. Maintained gardens, flower beds and xeriscape landscaping as part of a landscape design are excluded from enforcement under this division (3)(i);
(j) The overall condition of the property structure and/or grounds causes an unreasonable impact on the value of neighboring properties; and
(k) Vacant buildings or structure left unsecured or unguarded against unauthorized entry.
(Ord. passed - -)