(a) Investigation of Premises. The Department, on routine inspection or upon receipt of a complaint, may investigate a suspected junked motor vehicle, an abandoned motor vehicle, or motor vehicle accessories, and record the make, model, style and identification numbers in each situation.
(b) Inspection and Notice to Comply. The Department is hereby empowered, upon inspection, if a non-compliance with the terms of this chapter shall exist, to issue a written notice, served by registered or certified mail, upon the owner of the premises and/or the owner of the motor vehicle nuisance being maintained upon said premises, which notice shall specify the non-compliance complained of, and shall require the owner, whether of the property where the motor vehicle or accessories are stored or of the motor vehicle nuisance, to remove or otherwise rectify the non-conformity, as set forth therein, within ten days of the mailing of such notice. The City's Code Enforcement Officer shall have the option and authority to extend this period where determined necessary by extenuating circumstance, as determined in the Officer's discretion, and in no event to exceed any period longer than 60 days unless special approval has been granted by the City Manager, who will likewise be required to notify City Council of any grant of special approval for an extended period. If the owner of the property or of the motor vehicle nuisance being maintained cannot be determined, the notice may be given by posting the same conspicuously upon the offending premises and/or on the motor vehicle nuisance.
(c) Authority to Remedy Non-Compliance. If the owner of the grounds upon which the motor vehicle nuisance is maintained, and/or the owner of the motor vehicle nuisance, fails to comply with the notice to abate the non-conformity, of which notice is given, within the time limit prescribed, the City shall have the authority to take measures to correct the non-compliance including, but not limited to:
(1) Filing a complaint with the court for a violation of Section 302.8 of the International Property Maintenance Code; and/or
(2) Entering the property to impound the abandoned or junked vehicle at the owners expense and/or expense of the property owner; and/or
(3) Collecting costs from the salvage contractor, plus 15% payable to the City of Johnstown, at which time the salvage company will obtain ownership of the abandoned or junked vehicle.
(Ord. 4773. Passed 6-11-97; Ord. 5222. Passed 2-8-17; Ord. 5328. Passed 2-9-22.)