Whenever a petition is filed with the Public Safety and Housing Officer by a public authority or by at least five residents of the town charging that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation or whenever it appears to the Public Safety and Housing Officer, on his or her own motion, that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation, the Public Safety and Housing Officer shall, if his or her preliminary investigation disclosed a basis for such charges: issue and cause to be served upon the owner of and parties in interest in such dwelling a complaint stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the Public Safety and Housing Officer, or his or her designated agent, a place therein fixed not less than ten days nor more than 30 days after the serving of such complaint; that the owner and parties in interest shall be given the right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear in person, or otherwise, and give testimony at the place and time fixed in the complaint; and that the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling in hearings before the Public Safety and Housing Officer.
(Prior Code, § 5-33) (Ord. passed 5-19-1975)