(a) If an investigation reveals that a code violation exists, the enforcement official may issue a citation for such violation to the person having either ownership or control of any land, building, structure, sign, property, licensed or permitted business or operation which is in violation, and shall order that violation to be corrected.
(b) A citation may be served by personal or substituted service in accordance with the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure, either by delivering the notice to the person in violation personally, or by delivering the notice to a member of the person's family who is above the age of 16 years and by advising such person of the purpose of the citation. Proof of personal service shall be made at the time of service by a written declaration executed by the enforcement official effective service and shall declare the time, date and manner by which service was made. If personal service cannot be effectuated, the enforcement official may send the citation to the person via certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person's last known address. If the return receipt is not returned, a citation shall be conclusively presumed to have been served if it is also sent by regular mail, postage prepaid, which is not returned as undeliverable by the postal service.
(c) The citation shall be in writing and shall contain the following:
(1) The date the citation was issued;
(2) The name and address of the person(s) charged with the violation;
(3) The section of the ordinance that has been violated;
(4) The nature of the violation;
(5) The place and time the violation occurred;
(6) The amount of the fine imposed for the violation;
(7) The name, address and telephone number of the enforcement official issuing the citation;
(8) The time period allowed for the violation to be corrected. The time period allowed shall take into consideration the threat posed by the violation to the health, safety and welfare of the public and the nature of the work required to correct the violation, provided that no such time period for correction shall be less than ten days; and
(9) The name, address and telephone number of the office of the city collector, where fines are to be paid, and of the municipal court, where citations may be appealed. (Ord. 267. Passed 12-20-16.)