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SALEM -- City council may consider higher re-inspection fees for violators of housing code rules, giving them a monetary incentive to do better.
The Rules and Ordinances Committee reviewed the ordinance dealing with the city housing code in preparation for the housing division's pending move to the city health department. The housing code is enforced by housing inspectors, dealing with public nuisances and with compliance for minimum standards for rental units.
According to the city website description, "the housing inspector ensures that all properties are in compliance with the city housing code ordinances, performs regularly scheduled inspections and investigations of non-owner occupied residential units, and maintains records and reports."
The committee agreed to move the proposed ordinance changes to city council for action, recommending an increase of the re-inspection fee from $50 to $100 and an additional $100 for each additional re-inspection after that.
Councilwoman Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey, who chairs the committee, explained that inspectors sometimes have to keep going back to a property regarding an issue and that's time wasted that could be spent on other inspections. The higher fee will give people more incentive to correct the violations.
Another incentive being suggested is if a rental property passes inspection the first time, another inspection won't be required for three years. She said that's more incentive to show a good record of compliance with housing rules.
Language changes were also recommended, including to exchange anywhere it says city service director to say environmental director of the health department since that's who will oversee housing operations in the near future.
Dickey also suggested that inspectors check on the status of garbage removal during inspections. According to the existing housing code, the owner of every non-owner occupied dwelling is required to provide adequate trash removal. To her knowledge, she said "I don't see landlords providing that service."
Dickey said that could be why there's trash sitting on the curb when people move out. Both Councilman Jake Gano, who's on the committee, and city Law Director Brooke Zellers said that was their interpretation also, that it's the property owner's responsibility. Even if there's an agreement between the landlord and tenant for the tenant to contract for garbage service, if the tenant doesn't do that, it falls on the landlord, Zellers said.
A discussion also took place regarding people parking in the grass or just throwing down some gravel for a side parking space, with a lot of talk about what are acceptable materials. Mayor John Berlin, though, said that's more of a zoning issue, not housing.
In other business, the committee agreed to forward to council some language changes needed for the income tax incentive program, noting that laid off workers who come back can't be counted toward the number of new employees to qualify for a tax incentive. Neither can temporary employees. The program is overseen by an oversight committee and will be handled through the treasurer or a duly-appointed representative of the treasurer.
The Regional Income Tax Agency won't be handling the program.
mgreier@salemnews.net