ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Code Enforcement Inspectors in Rochester will be hired for each quadrant in the city. It is just one of several updates provided Wednesday morning during a news conference at City Hall with the Housing Quality Task Force.
According to the city, there is one vacancy remaining in the Code Enforcement Department, set for a plumbing inspector. As of January 24, there were 17 total code enforcement officer positions. Rochester’s Building and Compliance team is also working with the Neighborhood Service Center teams to “place two part-time Code Enforcement inspectors with a total of four inspectors; one in each quadrant will be hired.”
Clarification provided from the city explains two part-time code enforcement inspectors have been hired with two additional openings remaining. City officials also note this setup is designed to develop future full-time code enforcement officers.
During the progress update, City Mayor Malik Evans emphasized the recurring analogy of a ‘saber tooth tiger’ he and his team have been using as a motivated approach when it comes to targeting landlords and owners not keeping up with their properties. Legislation and litigation — that is what the City of Rochester’s housing attorney says are the two focal points in how they are holding delinquent landlords accountable. Per a law change last year establishing a vacant building registry, any property owner in the city with a vacancy for 60 days must register that building with the city. Owners of such properties are on a tight deadline — up to January 31st, to complete the new Civics Vacant Building Registry application.