Resident asks York City for transparency on tenant inspections and fee practices

During the Feb. 17 public‑comment period, resident Don Hake asked a series of procedural questions about the city’s tenant‑occupied property‑inspection program and asked the council to ensure inspections are enforced consistently.

Hake said he had previously submitted a form and had not received a response; he asked, “What happens when I submit that form here to the counsel? Where does it go? What is its journey?” He also reported being told by a former head of the tenant‑inspection department that inspection information is kept confidential on the advice of legal counsel and said that practice raised concerns about selective enforcement and potential corruption.

Hake requested details on inspectors’ starting compensation, required qualifications and training, how inspectors are vetted and hired, the city’s fee structure for inspections, why reinspection fees are required in advance, and what percentage of inspections pass on first review. A council or staff member apologized for failing to route Hake’s prior form to administration and committed to sending Hake an email and copying him when the form is submitted to administration.

The council did not take formal action on inspection policy at the meeting. Hake’s comments and the administration’s promise to follow up provide a clear public record for officials to supply documentation or statutory references about inspection confidentiality, fee calculations, and enforcement practices.