The City of Amsterdam could clean up graffiti on private property and bill the owner under a new ordinance being proposed by Mayor Ann Thane. The ordinance would require property owners to remove graffiti on their property within thirty days of being cited by the city. Within twenty days, city employees could be directed by the City Engineer to clean up the graffiti. The bill for the work would be sent to the property owner and if not paid within thirty days, would be added to the owner’s property tax bill.
Thane said on Thursday that recent discussions with the Amsterdam Police Department, Neighborhood Watch and Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers about the issue of graffiti tagging, especially in certain areas of the west end and waterfront area of the city prompted her to introduce the new ordinance.
A draft version of the ordinance was emailed to common council members on Thursday. The ordinance is scheduled to be discussed at a committee meeting at 6:30pm on Tuesday, just before regular council meeting.
