§ 100-5. Petitions by residents; preliminary investigation.

Whenever a petition is filed with the Health Officer by a public authority, as defined in N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.4, or by at least five residents of the township charging that any building is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use as herein defined, or whenever it appears to the Health Officer (on the Health Officer's own motion) that any building is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use as herein defined, the Health Officer shall, if said Health Officer's preliminary investigation discloses a basis for such charge, issue and cause to be served upon the owner of and parties in interest in such building a complaint stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the Health Officer (or the Health Officer's designated agent) at a place therein fixed not less than seven days nor more than 30 days after the serving of the 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 time and place 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 Health Officer.

Amended 6-8-1981 by Ord. No. 81-20