(a) Duty of owner. Whenever any building or structure has been condemned by the code enforcement officer and the existence of such building or structure in a dilapidated state of disrepair or other substandard condition is found and determined by the building inspector or, upon appeal from or report by the code enforcement officer as hereafter provided, by the council to be dangerous to life, health or other property, or is in such condition as to constitute a fire or safety hazard or a public nuisance, the owner of such building or structure shall be required to demolish and remove the same and remedy such conditions under the regulations and procedures herein provided.
(b) Authority of town on failure of owner. In the event such owner fails or refuses so to do within the time directed by the code enforcement officer or by the council, as hereinafter provided, the council may, in its judgment, cause the same to be demolished and removed or such other steps taken as it may find to be necessary to suppress and abate the nuisance and remove the fire or safety hazard and the danger to life, health or other property found to exist and specially assess the cost and expense of doing such work against the lot or parcel of land on which the building or structure is located.
(Code 1977, § 7-31)