Athens Code Enforcement can now begin filing about 500 misdemeanor charges against the 334 landlords who have not completed landlord-tenant forms.
City Council members decided to enforce the ordinance at yesterday's meeting. The ordinance penalizes landlords for failing to get new residents to sign the forms that inform them about city laws and could result in a maximum of a $150 fine.
Landlords will receive one letter warning them they will be charged if they do not complete the forms, said City Law Director Pat Lang. After that, Code Enforcement will start filing with the court system, he added.
Because we haven't enforced this previously
I have a problem with clobbering the (landlords) with charges said Councilwoman Sherry Coon, D-2nd Ward.
The landlord-tenant forms were designed to educate new residents about Athens laws so that neighbors didn't have to deal with exceedingly loud college students that were unaware of city codes, Council President Bill Bias said.
This is just one more attempt to bring some sort of sanity to those situations he said, adding he didn't understand why it has been so difficult to get landlords to comply.
Mayor Paul Wiehl said the city should consider denying rental permits to landlords who do not comply.
Other city council members that they might consider altering some components of the landlord-tenant form in the future.
I think that (the forms) are minimally effective if at all
said Councilman Elahu Gosney, D-at large, adding city council members should look into more ways to educate students on laws.
Chris Knisely, D-at large, said that she thought the forms have improved awareness among students and the Halloween block party has run more smoothly as a result.
The city has records of about $5,000 worth of revenue from vendors and parking and trash citations after Halloween, said Wiehl.
The block party cost the city at least $51,000 between custodial work, food costs, fire and police costs and code enforcement. These amounts are not final, as the city has not received reports from some departments, Wiehl added.
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