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New Freedom schedules separate public meeting after heated debate over proposed renter ordinance
Summary
After more than two hours of public comment and council discussion about privacy, inspection timing and fees, New Freedom Borough Council agreed to hold a separate public meeting to continue work on a proposed rental-housing and occupancy ordinance.
New Freedom Borough Council voted May 12 to schedule a separate public meeting to continue work on a proposed rental-housing and occupancy ordinance after more than two hours of public comment and extended council discussion.
The council agreed the item needs more public input and policy refinement rather than immediate adoption. Mayor Kim Butcher and Borough Manager Andrew Schafer said the draft shown at the meeting had been revised since it was posted, and solicitors’ suggestions narrowed several inspection provisions. Council then approved a motion to hold a standalone public meeting (targeted for roughly 45 days from the May 12 meeting) to take further public comment and refine the draft.
The proposed ordinance would require owners of rental property to register units with the borough and sets an enforcement framework for property maintenance standards already enforced through the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) and other state and local codes. Solicitor Walt Tilley told council he had…
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