City Looking into Ethical Concern with Rental Ordinance

Members of Havre de Grace City Council are considering a number of factors when determining how to proceed on the . Add a potential conflict of interest to that list.

has requested that the city attorney issue a statement on the potential ethical dilemma of property-owning council members voting on a bill that may impact their own finances.

At least two members of City Council, as well as the mayor—who does not have a vote—are considered "landlords" by common standards, though the definition of the term was raised for debate during at .

City Attorney Paul W. Ishak is expected to issue a letter to members of the council early this week on the subject.

raised the question of the ethical dilemma in a conversation with various council members following last week's .

The city's ethics code is being re-written. Currently, there is no mandate for elected officials to disclose the properties they own.

Ishak's ruling could state that, much like voting on a tax rate, the city's elected officials are assumed to be property owners in the community, including the potential of owning rental properties.

Also, the doesn't provide for any financial gains for landlords if passed.

isn't on Monday's City Council agenda.  Council president Bill Martin said at that he would hold off on a second reading of the legislation in order to better coordinate with landlords and tenants on details in the ordinance.

The would require landlords to register each rental unit in their possession on an annual basis, for a yearly fee of $12.

Many landlords have , arguing that it is a sign of unnecessary growth in local government. Other landlords have questioned why the previous rental ordinance, repealed earlier this year, wasn't enforced.

The prior ordinance will go back into effect on Dec. 18 if council takes no action on the proposed legislation.

at City Hall. Patch will provide live coverage of the meeting beginning at 6:45 p.m.