The city council discussed a potential amendment to the city code in regards to language for quality of life ticketing during Monday’s meeting. Screenshot courtesy of the City of Jamestown’s website

The Jamestown Department of Development has brought a resolution to the city council looking to change some language in the City Code regarding quality of life ticketing.

During Monday’s work session council members asked for some clarification from Crystal Surdyk, city development director, in regards to what was looking to be changed. Specifically, the resolution brought before the council is looking to change the city code section 219-9 B and add in a section 219-9 F, clarifying some of the language.

“It’s just to clarify,” Surdyk said. “It’s a really, really simple change. It almost seems like it shouldn’t matter but in the eyes of the judge and the way he looks at it, he recommended this change.”

No changes to the amount of days or anything involved in the ordinance will be changed, it is simply changing where the statement in the ordinance is located and adding the word date, Surdyk said. It was noted that this change was suggested by Judge John Lamancuso.

In order for cases to be prosecuted, Surdyk said the judge requested the removal of a clause stating “if the violation remains, an appearance ticket will be issued, resulting in a court appearance”, while changing the language to say “if the violation remains, an appearance ticket will be issued, resulting in a court appearance date.”

Corporation Counsel Elliot Raimondo asked about the staff report included in the agenda which says that it will be up to the code enforcement officer’s discretion to bring the offender into court.

“That’s based on their observation,” Surdyk said. “So if they comply then the code enforcement officer would dismiss the ticket, it’s like a fix-it ticket kind of, right? So, if they comply then the code enforcement officer can dismiss it. If they don’t, then they bring it to an appearance.”