Zoning issues and code enforcement for handling run-down properties in Oswego were discussed at the biweekly committee meeting on Sept. 19 and it has implications for off-campus living.

With regard to rental properties, Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow proposed an increase in the fee required to rent out properties in the city of Oswego. The current rate is $30 for three years per rental unit. The proposal by the mayor was to increase this amount to $150 for three years.

The debate grew heated at points with the viewpoints of an Oswego State student, the mayor and a landlord in Oswego. Oswego State student Alyssa Lopez spoke at the meeting about having her rental property condemned.  

The property Lopez was renting is located on 129 W. Fourth St. Lopez originally notified Oswego City Code Enforcement of uninhabitable conditions, citing the roof and front porch as the areas of concern. According to Lopez, the porch seemed like it might collapse and the eve of the roof was rotting from pigeons flying in the roof and defecating there.

Currently, Oswego State has a list of off-campus rental properties to reference for students. The list contains 387 rental properties and 54 landlords renting out those properties.

The property Lopez rented, which was eventually condemned, can be found on this list. Barlow and Lopez both said they would like to see a stricter screening process for this list. At the top of the spreadsheet document with the list of landlords, it is stated, “Properties and landlords on the housing list are not an endorsement of the Director of Off-Campus Affairs, the Student Association at SUNY Oswego, or SUNY Oswego.”

Oswego resident Deborah Engelke is a landlord in the city and she was adamant in her stance that landlords who are “doing the right thing” should not have to pay for the mistakes of others.

“I don’t know why we’re increasing the rate without increasing enforcement,” Engelke said.

In Barlow’s proposal he said the increased rate is to keep up with the times. Barlow said rental properties shouldn’t be exempt from the free enterprise system. He said one of his main campaign platforms nearly a year ago was code enforcement and creating a nicer city in terms of appearance and safety.

Barlow said the money brought in by the increase would be used to further develop the code enforcement department in the city.

“I believe landlords should pay their fair share and contribute to the department,” Barlow said.

One area of code enforcement that was addressed was Part 1203 of Title 19 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, which pertains to fire safety code. Barlow said this would help to prosecute on unsafe properties. The hope for change for landlords who are renting out unsafe or unsanitary properties would come by stopping landlords from collecting rent or “choking off rent,” Barlow said.

Chairman Robert A. Corradino excluded himself from any voting on the issues regarding rental properties because he himself rents properties in Oswego. He did participate in the discussion, but he decided that voting on the matters may be a conflict of interest.

The topics regarding the property rental fee and other code issues were tabled for later discussion. The next Oswego City Committee meeting will take place on Monday, Oct. 3.