Johnstown council adopts updated city code and approves landlord registry

The Johnstown Common Council voted on June 16 to adopt Local Law #1, a comprehensive update to the City Code of Ordinances, and separately approved an ordinance creating a landlord registry. Both measures passed on unanimous 5–0 votes.

The Code update was approved on a motion by Council Member Bradley Hayner, seconded by Council Member Scott Miller; council discussion noted the updated Code will be made available online and that this is the first full revision of the City Code since 1968. The Landlord Registry ordinance was approved on a motion by Council Member Scott Miller, seconded by Council Member Bradley Hayner; council members said further discussion is needed about how the registry will be implemented.

Neither the minutes nor the recorded meeting include direct public testimony on these items; the public hearing on the Code and the Landlord Registry was opened and closed without speakers. The council’s actions were procedural adoptions of local laws and ordinances; specific administrative steps and timelines for implementing the landlord registry were not specified in the meeting record.

The council’s votes were recorded as follows: Local Law #1 (Code of Ordinances) — motion carried, Ayes: 5; Landlord Registry ordinance — motion carried, Ayes: 5. The council did not record abstentions or no votes on these measures. The minutes say the updated Code will be available online.

Next steps noted in the meeting record include publication of the updated Code online and future council or staff work to determine implementation logistics for the landlord registry, including how the registry will be administered and enforced.