Trending
SALEM -- Councilman Geoff Goll said the new ordinance requiring registration for vacant homes and buildings in the city "points the finger" at the individuals who own properties and do nothing, letting them sit vacant.
"I don't think we're asking for too much," he said.
City council gave the legislation its final two readings and voted 6-0 for passage Tuesday night. The law will take effect in 30 days since it wasn't passed as an emergency.
According to the ordinance, its purpose is "to establish a program for identifying and registering vacant buildings and structures; and enhancing the rehabilitation of vacant structures; (and) to shift the financial burden of monitoring vacant structures from the general taxpayers to the owners of the vacant and/or blighted structures."
A property owner must register a vacant property no later than 90 days after the structure becomes vacant and no later than 30 days after being told by the zoning or housing department or fire department of the requirement to register. A plan must be filed to outline whether the structure will be demolished, outline a plan for maintenance if the building will remain vacant and an explanation for why it will be vacant or outline a rehabilitation plan if the building is to be returned to an appropriate occupancy or use.
The ordinance establishes an annual monitoring fee of $250 per structure for the first year of vacancy, $500 for the second year and $1,000 for every year after that. Late fees and legal action could result from nonpayment. Several exemptions for the registration exist related to active construction or renovation, fire or weather damage, or being actively on the market for sale or lease.
The Rules & Ordinances Committee chaired by Councilwoman Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey had been working on the ordinance since last summer. Goll, who also serves on the committee with Dickey and Councilman Clyde Brown, commended the effort that Dickey put into the ordinance. Brown echoed his comments and said Dickey did "one heck of a lot of work." Councilman Brian Whitehill said the ordinance will be a valuable tool.
In a related matter, Goll asked about the status of demolition of a vacant home on West Wilson Street that some neighbors had complained about. The home is on a list for demolition through the Columbiana County land bank. Mayor John Berlin said he would follow-up with the land bank on what's happening.
In other business, council held first reading on an ordinance allowing for council to set the compensation for Utilities Commission members, after an attempt to have all three readings at once failed.
Goll requested statutory rules be suspended so all three readings could take place for passage, but Dickey voted against it. Since the vote was 5-1, suspension of rules failed and they could only do first reading. Six council members must agree for rules to be suspended.
The three members of the Utilities Commission currently receive no compensation. Commission members never have since the group was formed many, many years ago to oversee the city's water and wastewater operations. Mayor John Berlin proposed compensation for the Utilities Commission during a recent Finance Committee meeting due to the time put in by members and the amount of responsibility for the utility department's multi-million dollar operation.
When asked to explain why she voted no for suspending the rules on the proposal, Dickey said there are a lot of volunteer boards and positions serving the city who also work hard. What about them?
"I think it sets a bad precedent," she said.
She pointed out that two of the commission members don't even want paid. She also questioned why the proposal was coming up now.
The wage ordinance which would set the pay for the Utilities Commission members received a second reading. One more is required for a vote. The ordinance also proposes a wage increase for permanent part-time police and fire dispatchers and for the council clerk. The proposal set a wage of $146.91 per month for the Utilities Commission chairman and $99.87 per month for the members.
Council also approved a resolution accepting a donation from the county commissioners of $20,000 to help cover the cost of the police officer assigned on a full-time basis to the county Drug Task Force and allowed Berlin to enter an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation giving permission for the state to resurface U.S. Route 62 within the city.
Saying he was asking on behalf of former city councilman Dave Nestic, Goll asked city Law Director Brooke Zellers to look at the timetable requirements to put the charter commission question back on the ballot. Petitions for issues on the May ballot are due in February. He wanted to know when council would have to act to get the issue back before voters.
Brown, who had been ill and missed the December meetings, was welcomed back and asked about the engineering qualifications process for the 2017 paving project. Berlin said the city received four packets from engineering firms and they would be reviewing the scoring sheets and scoring the qualifications soon. Brown said he's back for his 10th year on council and thanked all the people who sent him get well wishes.
During council comments, Dickey issued a reminder to property owners for the winter months.
"Remember your sidewalks are your responsibility -- please shovel them," she said.
Council meets again at 7 p.m. Jan 17 in council chambers at city hall.