GIRARD Council revisits rental policy

The inspection issue will be discussed at a meeting March 22.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- A newly implemented rental unit inspection system here has gotten the attention of some landlords who want the legislation to be completely revamped.
Dozens of landlords and property owners from the city crowded council chambers Monday to discuss what they deem excessive inspection fees and unnecessary annual inspections.
According to James Dobson, city health commissioner, the city updated its rental inspection policy and began enforcing that policy in 2005.
According to the ordinance, landlords are charged an annual registration fee of $12 per unit, and an annual inspection fee of $50 for the first rental unit with an additional $10 for each additional unit. Those landlords needing to address violations and in need of additional inspections will be charged $50 per re-inspection.
Each unit, according to the ordinance, must be inspected at least once a year. The city's rental inspection department has one full-time employee responsible for all rental unit inspections.
Landlord speaks out
Samuel M. Finelli, who owns several rental units in the city, told members of council that the inspections are not appreciated by landlords or those to whom they rent. He said it is difficult to inspect an occupied home.
"I disagree with yearly inspections," he said. "As a landlord, a lot of my tenants tell me they feel the inspections are intrusive."
Finelli also told members of council the inspection fees here are out of step with neighboring communities.
Finelli provided council with a comparison of inspection fees between Girard and the neighboring communities of Salem, Niles, Warren and Struthers. Girard's per-unit fees, he noted, were the highest among all five communities.
Finelli told council that Girard is the only city in the comparison to take on the cost of a full-time inspector.
Dobson said the city cannot achieve its goal of inspecting each unit annually with a part-time inspector. He said the fees were set to make the department self-sufficient because the city, which is in fiscal emergency, has no money in its general fund to subsidize the department.
Lawmakers' criticisms
Some members of council also took issue with the inspection policy. Councilman Dan Moadus said city government may be overstepping its bounds with the policy.
"This seems overly intrusive to me," he said. "It seems like government is doing more than it has to."
Councilman Joe Shelby, who owns rental units in the city, said the legislation should be amended. He said fees should be placed on those landlords who do not maintain their property and add to the blight in the city.
Moadus motioned for council to hold three readings on amendments to the legislation, but that motion was voted down. The issue will be addressed again at a 6 p.m. meeting March 22.
jgoodwin@vindy.com