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Youngstown council committee recommends repealing, replacing several laws
YOUNGSTOWN
City council’s safety committee is recommending the full legislative body repeal and replace laws regarding property maintenance, demolition and unsafe buildings.
The committee met for about 90 minutes Thursday reviewing the proposals.
Most of the proposed changes are minor and designed primarily to streamline policies and provide complete documents for the benefit of city officials and the public, said Nicole Billec, an assistant city law director.
Council decided March 18 to postpone a vote on these ordinances as well as others, including one on quality-of-life proposals, to further discuss them.
During Thursday’s meeting, the safety committee members chose not to make a change to the height of grass and weeds that would be in violation of city law.
Council was considering giving authority to inspectors to fine residents with grass or weeds grown in excess of 6 inches. Instead, the committee chose to keep the current 8-inch limit.
“I think 8 will suffice,” said Councilman Nate Pinkard, D-3rd and safety committee chairman. “If we go down to 6, it’s too much. If it needs to be lowered in the future, we will lower it.”
The committee also discussed a quality-of-life ordinance that deals with creating administrative penalties for those who violate laws on issues such as animal control, garbage dumping, illegal parking and loud music.
Council will next meet Wednesday.