Published: September 03, 2008 07:56 am      

Council amends summer-rental ordinance

Only 1 alderman votes down change

By Jake Palmateer
Staff Writer

ONEONTA _ The Common Council voted Tuesday to amend its summer-rental ordinance to give aldermen the authority to approve or deny new permit applications. Aldermen also voted to specify that for a renewal application, which is reviewed by the city clerk, the property must have been a permitted summer rental the year before.

The changes include inserting the word “documented” in a paragraph dealing with reasonable and rational factors for denying a permit.

In order to take effect, the ordinance must be signed by the mayor after a mayor’s public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 in City Hall.

During the Aug. 19 Common Council meeting, Eighth Ward Alderman Kevin Hodne proposed a last minute change to the amendment that involved the insertion of the word “documented.” Hodne said this came about after aldermen met with summer rental owner Nathan Batalion, who he said was worried about the arbitrary denial of summerrental permits.

All five aldermen present at the Aug. 19 meeting of the Common Council voted for the amendment. But because the insertion of the word “documented” was considered a substantial change, the motion amending the ordinance needed to be tabled until Tuesday night’s meeting.

Renting weekly in the summer, especially to the families of baseball-camp attendees, has been a growing business within the last decade with the opening of Cooperstown All-Star Village, Cooperstown Baseball World and Cooperstown Dreams Park.

Those opposed to summer rentals have said they are concerned about traffic, noise and other quality-of-life issues during what is normally a quieter time in Oneonta.

However, property owners in the summer-rental business contend they are improving properties when they renovate them to rent to families in the summer, and that they provide a service that bolsters Oneonta’s tourist economy.

Fourth Ward Alderman Michael Lynch had the only vote against changing the summerrental ordinance amendment, even though it was he who had originally suggested it. Lynch, who was not at the Aug. 19 meeting, said during a discussion before the vote said the use of the word “documented” undermined the intent of the original proposed changes. He suggested that the term “documented” should have been voted on by itself.

Mayor John Nader interjected and said it was, referring to the 5-0 vote from Aug. 19 and he and Lynch sparred over who had the privilege to speak.

First Ward Alderman Maureen Hennessy came to the mayor’s defense and addressed Lynch directly. “I’m very offended by your approach and your lack of respect for the mayor,” Hennessy said. “Your attitude is unnecessary. If you are uncomfortable with it, you don’t have to vote for it.”