Whenever an owner of property is required by general special or local law to make an improvement, perform any work or do any act on such property in the interest of public safety, health, comfort, and general welfare and such owner shall fail to make the improvement or perform the work or act required and the board of trustees shall cause such improvement, work or act to be done on such property or a contract has been awarded therefor by the board, the cost of such improvement, work or act may be assessed, levied and collected as may be provided by local law.
New York Legal Code