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Medford councilors advance review of overgrowth and rodent-control drafts; keep revisions in committee
Summary
Councilors reviewed a new overgrowth ordinance and updates to the city's rodent-control ordinance, debated solicitor edits and enforcement language, and voted to allow the ordinance sponsor to finalize minor edits with staff and the city solicitor before returning the drafts to committee.
Vice President Councilor Collins led a committee discussion on draft ordinances meant to strengthen Medford City's ability to address private-property overgrowth and rodent infestations and to direct associated fees and fines into a rodent-control revolving fund.
Collins told colleagues the overgrowth ordinance would allow the Board of Health to act when vegetation or conditions on private property create impediments to the public right-of-way or provide harborage for rodents. She said the proposed enforcement ladder begins with a written warning for a first offense, a $50 fine for a second offense and $100 for a third or subsequent offense, and that penalties collected would be deposited into the rodent-control account.
The committee reviewed the city solicitor's redline. Collins summarized solicitor Kevin Foley's main…
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