Oswego Council Hikes Rental Permit Fee

by Steve Yablonski | September 26, 2016 9:53 pm

OSWEGO, NY – At Monday night’s Common Council meeting, the mayor’s proposed rental fee permit hike was approved, 5-1-1.

Council president Shawn Walker cast the lone nay vote and Councilor Robert Corradino abstained.

Mayor Billy Barlow said his proposal will help hold “landlords accountable and pressure them into maintaining their property and treating their tenants fairly.”

The new rental permit fee is $150 for a three-year period, five times more expensive than the current $30 fee.

It will become effective as of Oct. 1.

The fee was last increased (to $30) on Aug. 22, 2005.

With all of the expenses and upgrades in the code enforcement department, the mayor said the fee increase will help bolster the department and make the inspection process more efficient.

“I’m delighted with the Common Council’s approval of the fee increase and our new code enforcement strategy as now we can begin holding landlords more accountable, begin to reclaim our neighborhoods and also stand up for tenants right,” the mayor said. “We are being strategic and extremely aggressive in making sure landlords are responsive to the concerns of their tenants and ensuring the properties they own do not detract from the value of our neighborhoods.”

The fee increase of $150 for a three-year rental permit comes one week after the Common Council took “no action” on the matter.

“I’m sure the council heard from their city residents and realize that we are entering a new chapter in the city of Oswego. City landlords will no longer influence the local government, but instead we will stand up, hold them accountable and block by block begin improving our neighborhoods,” Barlow said.

“We still have time to add to this as we go along as we see fit,” he said Monday night. “I urge the council now to pass this.”

More amendments to the city charter regarding code enforcement are in the works, he added.

The council approved Local Law No. 5 of Year 2016 ? a local law amending Chapter 83, Buildings, Dangerous of the Code of the City of Oswego.

And, they set a public hearing for a proposed a change in a local law, Chapter 149, Housing Standards Section 149-6.

The proposal would amend the section to read: Installation, alterations and repair to residential premises, and materials, assemblies and equipment utilized in connection therewith shall be reasonably safe to persons and property and in conformity with applicable statutes of the state of New York including, but not limited to, the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code in accordance with Title 19 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, Part 1203 and amendments thereto, and the city of Oswego  and orders, rules and regulations issued by authority thereof.

The public hearing will be held at 7:10 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Council Chamber of City Hall.

In other business, the councilors approved scheduling a public hearing regarding the proposed amendments to the Code of the City of Oswego, Chapter 257, Vehicles and Traffic, Section 257-27, Winter Parking Restrictions.

It will be held at 7:05 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Council Chamber of City Hall.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/oswego/oswego-council-hikes-rental-permit-fee/

---