Timeline to examine rules for Hamilton landlords grows longer

Unlike the prior meeting, no large crowd of landlords showed up Wednesday at the Hamilton City Council meeting. The city had set out about 50 extra seats and large speakers in the first-floor lobby outside City Council Chambers just in case. MIKE RUTLEDGE/STAFF

Unlike the prior meeting, no large crowd of landlords showed up Wednesday at the Hamilton City Council meeting. The city had set out about 50 extra seats and large speakers in the first-floor lobby outside City Council Chambers just in case. MIKE RUTLEDGE/STAFF

City leaders were ready for a large crowd of landlords Wednesday evening. They set up about 50 extra seats and two powerful speakers in the lobby outside City Council Chambers.

But a crowd did not show up, following City Manager Joshua Smith’s announcement two weeks ago that Hamilton officials would take several months to reconsider a few pieces of legislation that had riled the property owners.

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In fact, Smith announced during Wednesday’s meeting, consideration of proposed ordinances will take even longer than the three-to-six months he previously announced.

Smith said he was creating an ad-hoc committee of landlords to examine the city’s aims and the proposed legislation over the next three to six months.

Once the committee develops its proposed legislation, Smith said he then wants the city’s Ordinance Review Committee to discuss it over two consecutive months to further hash it out before it goes to Hamilton City Council, where it would be discussed during public hearings before a vote.

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Mayor Pat Moeller said that means “there is no date set for the next public hearing or for any kind of version of any legislation,” because the committee process will take as long as necessary.

Smith has not yet announced most members of the new committee because he is waiting to receive confirmation from those who have been invited, but has said those represented will include a spectrum of the variety of apartment owners who operate in the city.

Smith said he hopes to hold the committee’s first meeting later this month.

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