ANSONIA — The Board of Aldermen unanimously approved two separate ordinances Tuesday (Aug.10) that will ban use of marijuana on all city-owned fields, parks and school grounds, as well as hold absentee landlords more accountable.
The pot ban comes on the heels of a new state law that legalized recreational marijuana July 1. The law now allows people age 21 and over to legally possess up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana on their person, and a maximum of five ounces in a locked container in their home or car.
Ansonia already had an ordinance on the books that bans tobacco use in city recreational areas and school grounds, and simply added marijuana to that. The aldermen’s ordinance subcommittee on Monday (Aug. 9) approved the ordinance and recommended it to the full board for a vote.
City officials say the marijuana ban is intended to protect the health and safety of residents, and especially want to keep city youth safe from second-hand smoke.
“Adding recreational marijuana use to the list of prohibited activities at schools and parks will continue to keep our schools and recreational areas smoke and substance free,” said Alderman Joe Jaumann, who also chairs the subcommittee. “These areas are for all residents to enjoy without worrying about their health or if the activities of others will impact their health.”
Corporation Counsel John Marini, who worked with the ordinance subcommittee in drafting the language, said that public consumption of marijuana on city-owned recreational properties and youth sports “is not a good mix.”
The marijuana-free ordinance prohibits marijuana, also defined as “cannabis and/or THC product in all its forms, including but not limited to joints, spliffs, blunts, hash, oil, shatter, wax or edibles of any kind” from smoking and consumption in city-owned parks, fields (including parking lots) and school grounds.
Those in violation of the ordinance can face fines of $50 for each offense.
The second ordinance, dubbed the Landlord Accountability Act, takes aim at absentee landlords, and holds non-resident landlords more accountable. In part, the new ordinance requires non-resident landlords (not owner-occupied two and three family residences) to keep their current address and contact information on record with the city’s Building Department, along with the names of all tenants living at their rental properties, and list of all motor vehicles on those properties. Additionally, the ordinance will require bi-annual safety inspections of rental properties, something Ansonia did not previously require.
“Our research shows that absentee landlords tend to be difficult to get a hold and also tend to be less attentive to their rental properties,” said Jaumann. “This ordinance will help to ensure not only can we contact the owners directly about any issues that arise, but also ensure that the properties they are renting are safe for our residents who are electing to rent them. We see this as a quality of life issue for our residents and making sure those renting apartments in Ansonia receiving a safe home for their families.”
Marini said there are many responsible landlords in Ansonia, but a small minority of absentee landlords and their lack of attention to property upkeep is what prompted the ordinance.
“While many Ansonia landlords are responsible and attentive to the needs of their tenants, a small minority of rental property owners are causing big problems,” Marini said. “The Ansonia Building Department has encountered instances of deplorable, unsanitary living conditions where tenants’ health and safety is being placed at risk. We have encountered instances where our staff cannot locate absentee owners during emergency situations, like fires caused by faulty electrical wiring, or flooding due to unlicensed plumbing repairs, due to the owners’ failure to keep updated contact information on file with the city.”
Marini said the city in some cases “has been forced to step in” and temporarily relocate tenants while their rental units are made safe and habitable.
“The city doesn’t want to wait until a relocation is necessary before learning about health and safety violations at a rental property,” Marini added. “The new ordinance allows increased transparency and communication between the city and its landlords, and will hopefully avoid the worst situations before they become emergencies. It is designed to keep tenants safe by holding landlords accountable, and to improve the quality of life for Ansonia’s tenant population.”
Mayor David Cassetti lauded the ordinance subcommittee and Marini for their work to hold absentee landlords’ feet to the fire.
“We have many responsible property owners in our city, but there are a minority of irresponsible ones that give landlords a bad name,” Cassetti said. “Their tenants- our residents- are suffering because of them. If you’re going to be an absentee landlord in our city, you’re going to have to follow the rules. And if you intend on making money as a slumlord, well you can take this as a hint from my administration to get the hell out of our city.”
Both ordinances will take effect as soon as the City Clerk publishes them in the newspaper, as state law doesn’t recognize online publications as official publications, even though online publications publish stories on the subject matter of the legal notices.
