GLOVERSVILLE - Officials say they hope the city's new public nuisance law won't have to be used frequently, but they are glad to have it in their arsenal in the battle against blight.
The Common Council last month amended the city code, adding the Property and Building Nuisance Abatement Act.
The law is modeled after a similar one adopted in Glens Falls in 2000. Gloversville Mayor Tim Hughes provided the council with a copy of the law in September, with the suggestion the council members consider how it could apply to Gloversville.
After the council unanimously approved its version of the law, Hughes said the law gives the city another tool to combat blight.
"It gives [the city] something to fight back with," he said.
When the new council took office in January, a subcommittee was formed to look into the law. It includes 3rd Ward Councilman James Robinson, 4th Ward Councilwoman Ellen Anadio and 5th Ward Councilman Matt Myers.
"The Common Council finds that the quality of life for many residents of the city of Gloversville is threatened by the deterioration of some properties as well as by certain activities and patterns of behavior engaged in by individuals at, or in close proximity to, their homes," according to the law.
The Glens Falls law used a point system that let city inspectors cite tenants or homeowners for a range of blight-related conditions involving the condition of the properties and behavior at them. When a certain number of points are accumulated, the public nuisance law kicks in.
Gloversville Police Capt. Jim Lorenzoni said the city's new public nuisance law will probably only be used a few times over the course of a given year.
"I feel it will probably not be used frequently," he said. "But it will be another tool for us to use to combat some of the quality-of-life issues we face."
The law will apply after a number of offenses occur at a given property. For example, three violations of the city code regarding noisy animals within the same year will trigger the law.
Myers said the subcommittee decided to simplify the law by not to using the points system.
"It allows us to have the law without having the extra people that would be necessary to do the paperwork that would accompany [the point system]," he said.
Lorenzoni said there is minimal paperwork on the police officer's end. Most of the work required by the law will be done by the administrative staff at the Police Department and City Court, he said.
City Attorney John Clo said only citations - not necessarily convictions - will count toward the nuisance law.
Charges that may lead to a property owner being charged with breaking the nuisance law include the use of marijuana, first-degree loitering, disorderly conduct, noisy and annoying dogs, loud music or any felony involving the sale of drugs.
When any such violation occurs, the owner or occupant of the property will be notified.
If enough violations have accumulated to trigger the law, a ticket to appear in City Court will be issued to the owner or occupant of the property.
The court is allowed a range of remedies under the law such as evicting problem tenants, decreeing a residence may not be lived in for up to six months or revoking city licenses and permits related to the conduct of business at the property.
Myers said the nuisance law is essentially in a trial stage, and the council may make changes to the law as it sees fit.
"I do not think it is some magic button that will fix everything we are concerned with," he said. "But it will contribute to helping us solve the problem."
Rodney Minor covers Gloversville. He can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com.