a. A permit for a public pay telephone shall continue in effect for the term of the franchise held by the owner of such public pay telephone, unless the commissioner, after giving the permittee notice and an opportunity to be heard, determines: (i) that as a result of changed conditions, the public pay telephone unreasonably interferes or will unreasonably interfere with the use of a street by the public, or constitutes a public nuisance; or (ii) that removal of the public pay telephone is required in connection with a street widening or other capital project or for other purposes as may be specified by rule of the commissioner. Upon making such determination, the commissioner shall order the removal of the public pay telephone within a reasonable time period. In the event the permittee fails to remove the public pay telephone within the time period specified in such order, the commissioner may remove or cause the removal of the public pay telephone and have repair and restoration work performed at the expense of the permittee, who shall be liable in a civil action for the amount expended by the city.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision a of this section, in the event that a public pay telephone is removed in connection with a street widening or other capital project or other improvement specified by rule of the commissioner, the permittee may apply to the commissioner for permission to reinstall the public pay telephone at another location or, following the completion of such street widening, capital project, or other improvement, at or near its original location. Where such permission is granted, the permittee shall not be required to obtain a new permit for the public pay telephone, and the permit previously issued for such public pay telephone shall continue in effect. If such public pay telephone is reinstalled at another location, the permittee may apply to the commissioner for a new permit to install another public pay telephone following the completion of such street widening, capital project or other improvement at or near the original location of the public pay telephone previously removed in connection therewith, provided that the permittee has paid the required fee for such permit.
Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 1995/068.