Tough Times Brew for Rowdy Houses

WILDWOOD — Wildwood Board of Commissioners approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 870-11, known as the “rowdy house ordinance” at its meeting Wed. Aug. 10.
The ordinance has been a work in progress since May when the Commissioners decided to address concerns of citizens who regularly ex-pressed frustration with out of control rentals in the city. The holdup, according to Mayor Ernie Troiano, was addressing language of the ordi-nance.
“Part of the problem is that we have weekly rentals,” said Troiano. “In the course of a month you can have multiple calls in the same week.”
“Next year I’d like to create a task force. Underage drinking is out of control,” said Troiano. “I’d like to see a holding tank.”
“We go into a house,” said the mayor, “and there are 50, 60, 70 kids who are 17 and 18 years old. One parent, a mother, was carrying in the booze for them. She told me ‘this is what they do.’”
The new ordinance mandates that if “a multi-family residential property has received 10 qualifying calls in a 60-day period, “the property owner shall receive a written notice that the property has been placed on a probationary nuisance status.” The language of the ordinance states that a multi-family residential property is one that is used for residential purposes and is comprised of 10 or more units.
Residential properties, which are defined in the ordinance as those properties of less than ten units, will require 6 qualifying calls within a 60 day period prior to being placed on probationary status.
According to the ordinance, “qualifying calls” are defined as calls made to a city agency about a property in regard to alcoholic beverage violations, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, excessive noise, littering, improperly parking a vehicle, possession of a barking or howling animal, possession or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, prostitution, public urination and indecent exposure.
Once placed on probationary status, the owner would be sent an order of abatement for the nuisance within 30 days. Any additional qualifying calls to the property within the 12-month period would be billed to the property owner in the amount of $250 per call. If the owner fails to pay, or refuses to pay the bill within a reasonable time, the city would file a complaint and notice of hearing, where a hearing officer would assess an administrative fee of $500. The cost of legal services, expert witness fees, search fees, and advertising expenses incurred in connection with the litigation would also be charged to the owner.
If an owner is not compliant, and the city uses public funds in order to correct a violation, a lien would be placed against the property, much like the method used to collect real estate taxes.
“This new ordinance allows the commissioners a hammer,” said City Clerk Chris Wood, “to shock and awe, if you will, to get their attention.”
“They think Wildwood is a lawless place,” said Troiano. “We’re going to make their lives miserable for them. ‘Business as usual’ will not be ‘as usual’ next season.”
A second and final reading of the new ordinance will take place at the next Commissioners’ meeting on Wed., Aug. 24. That meeting will include an opportunity for public comment prior to the ordinance being adopted.