Trustees studying plan to eliminate nuisances

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Animal, health, safety and sanitation violations would be nuisances.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

BOARDMAN — A resolution under trustees' consideration would make landlords and property owners responsible for what occurs on their property. The resolution is in draft form and would require three readings to take effect.

"If the police come out to a place three times in one year for the same type of thing and the landlord or the property owner fails to take affirmative action, they can be fined," said Atty. Mark Finamore, who represents the township.

The home rule resolution is modeled on legislation in Akron.

Home rule enables townships to enact resolutions customized to their individual problems rather than restricting them to adhere to state statutes.

Both Robyn Gallitto, trustee chairwoman, and Trustee Elaine Mancini said they were still reviewing the draft. Each of the trustees will review the document and make suggestions before public hearings are scheduled, Gallitto said.

Trustee Kathy Miller asked Finamore if such regulations could be accomplished in the township after reading about Akron's legislation.

Miller, who owns rental property, said she sometimes didn't learn about problems at one of her buildings until she read newspaper accounts about them.

"I see it as a way to work with landlords and property owners," she said. "I don't see it as punitive."

What's proposed

Under the proposed resolution, when the police chief determines that three nuisance activities have occurred on a property within a year, police will serve written notice to the property owner declaring it a nuisance.

It classifies nuisance activities as animal violations, disorderly conduct, drug abuse, gambling violations; health, safety and sanitation problems; obstructing official business, alcohol or sex offenses, theft, criminal damaging and weapons, fireworks or open-burning violations.

A property owner convicted of a first offense or causing police to be called to the property for a fourth time would be fined $250.

A $500 fine would be the penalty for a second offense; $750 would be the fine for a third offense; and $1,000 would be the penalty for the fourth and subsequent offenses.

"It's really about people who just ignore us," Miller said.

She referred to absentee landlords and banks that foreclose on properties but don't maintain them.

"We're not trying to go after good citizens," Miller said.

Monday, October 2, 2006