City considers rental regulations in memory of past councilwoman
Former Councilwoman Rose Floramo may have passed away, but an issue she fought for is still very much alive. At the recent Economic Development Committee meeting, current council members heard a presentation on a rental housing registration law.
The proposal of a law to hold landlords and tenants in the city more responsible for property conditions gained traction in 2011, but was not made into law.
Code Enforcement Officer Allan Zurawski said that law was adapted from similar laws in the city of Buffalo, the town of Evans and the village of Fredonia.
Without the law, the city of Dunkirk is limited on which landlords they can cite for property maintenance violations to those who live in Chautauqua and adjacent counties.
“Basically we have to make it a crime to rent property without registering. Our enforcement as code violations is limited to adjoining counties; criminal jurisdiction goes worldwide,” Attorney Sean Connolly explained.
The law would identify and register rental properties, provide a means to contact property owners, allow for inspection of properties, ensure maintenance, alleviate substandard housing and blight and outline landlord and tenant responsibilities.
In addition to the registry and inspections, the law would also require out-of-town landlords to appoint a local agent or point of contact that can be called and held responsible for violations.
Zurawski said although this seems like a good idea, it is not without its challenges. Those include the necessity to hire more staff in the code enforcement and treasurer’s offices, time to initiate the program and an update to the computer system.
Resident Harriet Tower mentioned other cities have a team that systematically inspects rental properties by section and added it should not solely rest on the code enforcement office to get this done.
Resident John Ames also emphasized that some responsibilities need to be on the tenants.
“It is a start. There’s a lot to be done and a lot to digest in regard to getting a law like this passed, but it can be done. These issues need to be addressed. There are points that the attorney needs to verify and see what we can do and what we can’t do, but it’s something that definitely needs to be addressed,” Third Ward Councilman Adelino Gonzalez said.
Fourth Ward Councilman Stacy Szukala added she would like help from the county in restricting online auction sales, so that purchasers are required to make a trip to Mayville.
The next Economic Development Committee meeting will be held June 20.
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