NEWS
The GJLA is discussing the details of the Combined Garbage Bill - Property Tax Bill with City leaders.
The City now requires owners of rental property to pay the garbage bill, tenants are no longer allowed to sign up. We would like to know how you are handling this matter with your properties. Are you going to increase the rent, consider the fee a cost of doing business, or do you include garbage in the rent?
Apparently the fee will apply to vacant as well as occupied units. Unless the owner lives in 1 side and the dwelling is a double house.
The Johnstown City Council has voted to pass the Disruptive Property Ordinance. Here's what this means for you:
You have a right to receive a report detailing disruptive activity at your Johnstown properties. 'Disruptive Activity' means any arrests, citations or summons issued to your tenants or their guests. You can use these reports to determine lease violations and more effectively manage your rentals. It is unclear whether the city has the manpower or funds to actually provide these reports, so we encourage property owners to call the Codes Enforcement office if they would like a report.
Also, if any disruptive activity occurs at your property you have the right to appeal to the 'Director' of this program. It is unclear who this person is or whether there will be a 'Director' in the near future.
Furthermore you can appeal to the Appeals Board. At this time it is our understanding that the Appeals Board is City Council. It is unclear if City Council is ready to hear appeals at this time.Johnstown's Disruptive Property Ordinance allows officials to classify a property as 'disruptive' when Police, Animal Control, Public Works and Building Inspections departments are required to visit the property repeatedly within a certain period of time. There are other requirements for arrests, and there is an Appeals Board. The Johnstown ordinance is virtually identical to a Pittsburgh ordinance of the same name. This classification will allow officials to charge the cost of these visits to the owner of the property. This flowchart is the easiest way we know to learn about the details:
The GJLA has the following concerns:
Will the City first attempt to collect the costs from the tenant prior to assessing the owner? Will these costs be added to any fines placed on the tenant from successful prosecution?
If the 'disruptive' tenant is the head of a household, will all members of the household need to be evicted to avoid prosecution of the owner?
If the 'disruptive' party is a guest of the tenant, and is there without the knowledge of the owner, costs may be assessed to the owner.
Will a 'disruptive' classification 'stick' with a tenant so they are unable to receive a City moving permit, or sign up for water, garbage or sewer service? Will this designation also 'stick' to a 'disruptive' owner occupant?
Will this ordinance apply to owner-occupied dwellings as well as rental properties?
Will the City assist landlords with evictions of 'disruptive' tenants if the landlord does not have a clause in their lease requiring no criminal activity on the property?
Will the 'disruptive property' reports be public, so other landlords can check names when screening tenants to avoid a 'disruptive' tenant moving from one dwelling to another?
Will estimated costs of enforcement be disclosed prior to passage of this ordinance?
Will visits by police that do no result in arrests be assessed against the property owner?
In 2004 Brownstown Borough passed an ammendment to their property maintenance code. It called for fees, permits, inspections and penalties for violations. We will discuss this ordinance at upcoming meetings.
The Cambria-Somerset Council of Governments performs these inspections. They provide services to the following municipalities: Ebensburg, Gallitzin, Upper Yoder, Nanty-Glo, South Fork, Dale, Summerhill, Berlin, Brownstown, Central City, East Conemaugh, Franklin, Ferndale, Jenner, Lorain, Stonycreek, and West Taylor.
The City of Johnstown has implemented the new Property Registration Ordinance.
All owners of property whether commercial or residential are required to register if there has been a change in occupancy since 1996.
There is no fee to register.
There is no requirement in the new ordinance requiring landlords to divulge the names of their tenants.
It is the TENANT'S responsibility to register using the move-in permit.
Registered landlords can use the enhanced move-in permit to help qualify their tenants.
The GJLA can inform you of the benefits and responsibilities of this new ordinance. Please come to a meeting and download our new
Newsletter for more informaion.
This is the ad placed in the Tribune...
The page on the right is a sample of the Property Registration Form. You can call City Hall to see if your name is on file already.
The public meeting held on March 28th was informative. Several residents and landlords spoke and Council asked questions themselves. Mr. Davis outlined the registration form to be used by all property owners and discussed the enhanced move in permit form that is the basis for sharing information between the city and landlords. Prospective tenants can now register with the city before renting your property. A form listing the status of sewer and garbage accounts, as well as code violations for each adult who wishes to rent your property will be provided to landlords. A report of criminal convictions in Johnstown will be available also. The property registration form is simple and is required to get the tenant background information from the city.