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Most citations issued for homes, not rentals
(by Sue Reid - May 12, 2011)
Most citations issued for homes, not rentals
By SUE REID
Solon City Council members will keep up the momentum following a special work session last week on a proposed rental occupancy permit ordinance that included inspections.
"Let's keep this discussion going," Mayor Susan A. Drucker said following the nearly three-hour session.
Council has another session scheduled for 5 p.m. May 16, prior to its regular meeting. Prior to that, Planner Director Robert S. Frankland, with the assistance of chief building official Charles Boushane, will rewrite parts of the ordinance council asked to be changed.
Line by line, Mr. Frankland went through half of the 17-page ordinance for council, covering the section on inspections that would occur on a two-year cycle.
Inspections of the city's nearly 1,300 rental properties identified through the planning department were brought back on the table recently after council rejected the planning commission's recommendation of yearly registration and not inspections.
Also in attendance at the work session was zoning inspector Joyce Soltis. She answered questions on the citations routinely issued.
Councilman William I. Russo, who opposes inspections, asked Ms. Soltis the percentage of citations she issues for owner-occupied homes and rental units.
Ms. Soltis said the majority she issues are for owner-occupied dwellings. For all of the citations she issued last year, just 12.5 percent related to rental units, she said.
Ms. Soltis said she wrote 600 letters associated with violations last year, 43 for rental units. Of the five cases that went to court last year, all were associated with owner-occupied properties, she said.
"We are looking at drafting an ordinance that will address a small amount of properties in Solon," Mr. Russo said. "How can we assure safety when we are addressing a small amount of housing in Solon?"
Councilwoman Toni M. Richmond said that, because it's a complaint-driven system, calls to Ms. Soltis from neighbors are regarding things they are looking at just from the exterior.
"If you have an unsafe home," Ms. Richmond said, including such things as bad wiring or gas leaks, "there is no way to ascertain what is going on inside the rental unit, except for what the renters disclose." She said she favors internal inspections to address such issues.
What council is discussing is "rental legislation, not inspections of everyone's houses," Ms. Richmond said. "We are not going to go there," she said. "This is about rental legislation involving rentals and rentals only."
Ms. Richmond asked Ms. Soltis if there have been any cases where she has been asked to do an internal inspection.
Ms. Soltis said she does not have the authority to go inside a home.
Mr. Frankland said there are no ordinances on the books giving her the authority to do so.
Mr. Boushane said, if she does get asked, she can refer the request to the building department.
If rental inspections are included, Mr. Boushane said, he would not require additional staffing in his department but would look to increase the hours of some part-time employees.
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