Int. No. 1147
By Council Members Holden, Rosenthal, Brannan, Dromm, Ampry-Samuel, Gjonaj, Moya, Yeger, Rose and Ayala
A Local Law in relation to the creation of an interagency derelict housing and neglected property task force
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Derelict housing and neglected property task force. a. There shall be an interagency task force that shall review and recommend changes to the laws, rules, regulations and policies related to the abatement of nuisances or other health or safety risks created by derelict housing and neglected properties.
b. The task force shall consist of 7 members, or their designees, as follows:
1. the commissioner of health and mental hygiene;
2. the commissioner of buildings;
3. the commissioner of housing preservation and development;
4. the commissioner of sanitation;
5. the commissioner of environmental protection;
6. one member appointed by the mayor; and
7. one member appointed by the speaker of the council.
c. Members of the task force shall serve for a term of 1 year, to commence after the appointment of the final member of the task force. All members shall be appointed to the task force within 60 days of the enactment of this local law.
d. All members of the task force shall serve without compensation and shall meet, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis.
e. No member of the task force shall be removed except for cause and upon notice and hearing by the appropriate appointing official. In the event of a vacancy, a successor shall be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment to serve the balance of the unexpired term.
f. The task force shall issue a report to the mayor and council no later than 12 months after the final member of the task force is appointed. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, analysis and recommendations regarding the following:
1. reporting of problems relating to derelict housing or neglected properties by members of the public and the response to such reports, including situations where it may be unclear which agency has the authority to address the problem;
2. coordination between agencies when one property has violations from different city agencies;
3. strategies for addressing violations that a property owner fails to repair; and
4. the authority of city agencies to repair violations, including through the department of health and mental hygiene’s authority to abate nuisances, and the department of housing preservation and development’s emergency repair program, and whether any additional authority to repair violations should be granted to any agency.
g. Such task force shall dissolve 90 days after the final submission of the report required pursuant to subdivision f.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately and is deemed repealed 90 days after the final submission of the report required by subdivision f of section 1 of this local law.
NAB
LS #7960
9/26/18