Top Five Recommendations

Members of the Ilion Citizens Codes Committee have been meeting for weeks researching and reviewing codes enforcement issues in the Village of Ilion. The Village Board asked our volunteer group to come up with our top five recommendations.

The Ilion Citizens Codes Committe formerly presented our "Top Five Recommendations" to the Ilion Village Board on Wednesday, November 18, 2015. We thank Tom Goldin for speaking on behalf of the group and participating in the two Village Code Sweeps that were held in the fall.

We thank the Village Board for cooperating with us as we conducted research. We look forward to hearing from all Village Board Members regarding our recommendations and if/when/how they will be implemented.

The final MSWord Document and a pdf version of the report is available for download. See the files link below.

The Report can be also be reviewed here.

The content of the report is presented here for easier access.

Priority 1: Make local codes more easily accessible to the public on the Village web site.

(1) Some pdf files are available on the Village web site but they are not indexed and cannot be searched. Village laws need to be in digital format, on the web and searchable by keywords.

(2) Recommend converting and publishing Ilion laws, on the web, using a subscription based service such as eCode360. Recommend keeping those laws up-to-date whenever a new laws is passed or an existing law is amended. A list of the many New York State municipalities currently using eCode360 is available here:

Cost for re-codification -

$13,400 spread over multiple budget years.

(3) Recommend converting the current Village of Ilion web site to a Digital Towpath web site so information is searchable and published in a timely manner. The Digital Towpath will soon offer a Codes Enforcement Module. Annual cost for all services is only $1,020.

Priority 2: Upgrade Technology (software and hardware) used in Codes Enforcement.

(1) Village should call meeting and review this possible upgrade as soon as possible. This would complement Village potential new technology support hire and new codes officer. The current system, as explained by Chief Trevett, is paper/folder based. It cannot easily give village board the information as to codes issues that re-appear, repeat offenses/offenders, location of blighted area, zombie houses (unattended, abandoned properties), etc.

(2) Investigate and adopt systems, preferably web-based subscription systems) used by other municipalities to record and file codes information from compliance to enforcement.

The Digital Towpath will be offering a codes enforcement module in its next release.

BAS Integrated Property System

The City of Utica uses BAS Integrated Property System (IPS).

The company is based in Clifton Park, NY>

http://www.basgov.com/software/ips.html

The City of Syracuse also uses it:

"IPS has provided greater productivity for many aspects of the City of Syracuse’s operations, for the benefit of citizens, developers, and City staff. The Complaint Module provides Code Enforcement and Public Works a means to more efficiently manage and track high volumes of varied activities, and the Web Portal allows constituents to enter and track complaints and service requests online. Using Workflow for interdepartmental reviews of permit and zoning plans has made review processes transparent and more efficient, automatically notifying the applicant and other reviewers of relevant results. Access to information tracked by multiple departments has made IPS an invaluable tool for planning and resource allocation."

(3) Perhaps county official could host such a meeting for local villages; Economic Development resources could be contacted.

Other methods of evaluating Codes Enforcement Software:

Top Code Enforcement Software Products

2,000+ businesses use Capterra each week to find the right software. The BAS Code Enforcement software is used by Utica.

• BAS Code Enforcement

• GovPilot

• MuniLogic - Case Studies

Priority 3: Lead by Example - The village needs to address issues with its own property. Entrance signs to the village, park signs, park fences and public seating areas need to be cleaned up, painted and repaired. The fence in front of the police department has needed attention for a long time. The steps to Armory Hill need to be rebuilt. Infrastructure needs to be maintained and not just closed down and abandoned, for example: Wiesbecker Ave, 1/2 the steps to Armory Hill and the public pool.

The village should properly maintain its own structures: Second St. Bridge, benches, fences, painting of fire hydrants, signs and the police department fence. It will be difficult to expect compliance from its citizens if the village does not follow it own laws.

Priority 4: Education and Communication - Codes Enforcement is everyone's responsibility: firemen, policemen, DPW staff, village employees and residents. Use technology to educate the public using an upgraded web site, on-line complaint forms, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to educate and communicate property maintenance responsibilities.

(1) Schedule and hold training session for all employees regarding looking for and reporting Codes Enforcement issues.

(2) Local citizens can contact Chief Trevett in writing, by email or by phone about concerns of compliance with codes. He will then initiate an investigation. There are codes in place on tires, certain status of cars/vehicles located across sidewalks, garbage, etc.

(3) Create Committee web site with information available to the public and create a web form where the public can submit and report on Codes issues.

(4) Publish citations in the local newspapers to help educate the public on what constitutes a violation.

Priority 5: Recommend new laws or amending existing laws in regards to property appearance.

Addressing cars on lawns, recreational vehicles in driveways; porches laden with debris, furniture/TVs on lawns is a concern. While NYS law permits some things, other municipalities have established local codes that prohibit these eyesores. Ilion should pursue this as well.

Landlord Registration:

Create/codify/enforce a Landlord Registration requirement for all non-owner occupied properties with required safety and codes inspection. This would help contain blight, assure safety of residents.

(1) Absentee landlords and sub-standard rentals were cited as a major issue in the village.

The city of Utica has a requirement that all rental properties be registered. Chapter 2-12: Housing Standards

ARTICLE II: Rental Dwelling Registry

http://ecode360.com/14007253

(2) Realtors who have property under contract are responsible for compliance.

(3) Information on who owns what property etc. is available on line

(4) Nuisance Abatement law to crack down on repeat offenses by tenants.

Vehicles:

The Town of Henrietta has an excellent law that addresses junk vehicles and parking on lawns. The Village of Ilion should have laws that are as tough. see

vehicles Town of Henrietta Vehicle Laws on eCode36

Selling of Vehicles

The Town of Henrietta defines how and how often vehicles may be sold on any property. Refer to Town of Henrietta Vehicle Laws on eCode36

Notwithstanding the foregoing section, a vehicle which is both not licensed and inspected as provided in the foregoing section may, for a period of not more than 30 consecutive days, be displayed in public view for sale, provided that the vehicle is stored on an adequately maintained paved or stone surface. The owner of such vehicle must be an owner/occupant of the lot on which said vehicle is so offered for sale, and at no time shall there be more than one such vehicle for sale on any lot at one time. No more than two vehicle(s) shall be so offered for sale on any lot during any twelve-calendar

Upholstered Furniture on Porches

The City of Buffalo, NY passed a law to prohibit the storing of upholstered furniture on porches.

[Added 7-20-2004, effective 8-2-2004]

Upholstered furniture may not be located, stored, or used on any porch unless such porch is fully enclosed year-round in such a fashion as to prevent any access to or use of the furniture by rodents or other pests as harborage or nesting, or for nest-building material.

Dish Antenna Installations

The Village of New Hartford does not allow antenna to be installed on the front of buildings and a permit is required for installation.

A permit from the Code Enforcement Officer is required for dish antenna installations and Village code does NOT allow dish type antennae in the front of Village properties. Please inform your installer that a permit is required before installation. Permits can be obtained in the Village Office on the second floor of Butler Hall, 48 Genesee St.

Playground Equipment in Front Yards

The Town of New Hartford does not allow playground equipment to be stored in front yards. see Article V: Use, Area and Bulk Regulations

Section 118-23

http://ecode360.com/6187413#6187413

I. Trampolines, swing sets and other like apparatus shall not located in any front yard.

Recreational Vehicles

The Town of New Hartford does not allow recreational vehicles, boats and trailers in any front yard and can only be placed in the side yard if the rear is not accessible or large enough. In addition, they must be placed on a prepared surface.

The Town of New Hartford does not allow playground equipment to be stored in front yards. see Article V: Use, Area and Bulk Regulations

Section 118-23

http://ecode360.com/6187413#6187413

H. All recreational vehicles, boats and trailers shall not be parked in any front yard setback. If the rear yard is not accessible or large enough to accommodate the vehicle, trailer or boat, it may be placed in the side yard only on a prepared surface.