[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Potsdam 3-27-1980
as L.L. No. 4-1980. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This code shall be known and may be cited as the "Fair Housing Code
of the Village of Potsdam, New York."
It is hereby declared that the purpose of this code is to provide a
mechanism for enforcing the state and federal housing laws as they apply to
discrimination on a local level.
Each realtor, owner, corporation or landlord is responsible for seeing
that he/she follows the requirements of this code in renting, leasing or selling
any dwelling within the Village of Potsdam.
A.
In renting, leasing or selling a dwelling within the
Village of Potsdam, no person or persons will be refused as a renter, lessee
or buyer due to his/her/their race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial
status or national origin.
[Amended 1-20-1992 by L.L. No. 1-1992]
B.
All applicable state and federal laws regarding fair
and/or open housing shall be complied with when renting, leasing or selling
a dwelling.
A.
This code shall be enforced by the Local Fair Housing
Officer, who will be appointed by the Board of Trustees.
B.
The Fair Housing Officer shall have the authority to
make, adopt and promulgate such written rules, regulations and forms as he/she
may deem necessary for the proper enforcement and administration of this code
and to secure the intent thereof. Such rules, regulations and forms shall
not be in conflict with the provisions of this code, any other local ordinance
or the New York State Fair Housing Code. Said rules, regulations and forms
shall be on file and available for public view.
C.
If any realtor, landlord or homeowner is reported to
be violating or to have violated the conditions set forth in this code or
in the rules and regulations of the Fair Housing Office, that person or persons
shall be investigated. A fine shall be imposed on any person or organization
found in violation of this chapter, not to exceed $100 for a first offense,
$300 for a second offense and $500 for a third or subsequent offense. The
minimum fine for violations of the law shall be $100 for a first offense and
$150 for each additional offense. Each and every violation of this chapter
shall be deemed a separate offense for the purposes of imposing the appropriate
fine.
[Amended 1-20-1992 by L.L. No. 1-1992]
A.
The Board of Trustees is hereby designated to hear and
decide any appeals or review any order, requirement, determination or decision
made by the Fair Housing Officer.
B.
Any person aggrieved by a determination or action of
the Fair Housing Officer may file a request for review to the Board of Trustees
but must do so within 30 days of the determination or decision.
C.
Upon receiving a request for review, the Board of Trustees
will schedule a hearing on the appeal and notify all parties thereof. The
Board of Trustees shall make a decision on the appeal within 35 days of the
hearing. The Board of Trustees may reverse or affirm, wholly or in part, or
may modify any order, requirement, decision or determination of the Fair Housing
Officer.
