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With some modifications to the rental fee schedule debated last week, the Hancock City Council was able to pass two related measures before the new ordinance takes effect on February 1st. That will allow for city employees to finish preparing the application packets for roughly rental properties in the municipality and send them out. Each property will be treated as a separate entity, even if certain owners possess multiple multiple buildings.
The main sticking point during the January 20th meeting was the initial application fee. Proposed at $250, the concern was that certain owners would be harmed by having to pay the fee early in the registration period versus properties that it may take years to get to. City Manager Mary Babcock presented a revised schedule that eliminates the initial fee in the near term. For already registered properties, it will be zero. For existing, but unregistered, rentals, they will be subjected to a five-dollar fee. That provides a five-month window without penalty. Mayor Paul Labine summarizes the changes.
In place of the fee is the requirement for a self-certification checklist to be completed by rental owners. Those must be turned in with the initial application. The council also passed a resolution on implementation of the rental inspections. Those are still subject to a $100 annual fee, or $30 per unit whichever is more, with an examination happening every three years. Member Richard Freeman of Ward Two expressed concern about whether COVID-19 would allow for the new regime to truly get going this summer at full speed.
Clarification was issued on what qualifies for a reinspection fee charge. Mayor Pro Tem Will Lytle said many potential minor issues could be handled without a second visit to the physical premises.
Freeman provided the only no vote for both resolutions. Councilman Ron Blau abstained due to his status as a rental owner. The final votes were five in favor, one against, and one abstention for resolutions 21-01 and 21-02.
