AUGUSTA — A revised bedbug ordinance’s rules now would apply to all rental buildings in the city, not just multi-units, and would hold tenants who don’t cooperate responsible for the cost of ongoing treatment of an infestation.

Those changes and others were made to a proposed permanent version of a bedbug ordinance first adopted as an emergency measure May 5 after a bedbug infestation was discovered at two Water Street boarding homes. City officials said they couldn’t do much about it because existing state and city rules didn’t allow the city the ability to require landlords to take steps to get rid of the blood-sucking bugs.

The Augusta City Council on Thursday will begin review of a revised ordinance that would give city officials more power to take action if a bedbug infestation is found. Photo courtesy of city of Augusta

The proposed new permanent bedbug ordinance was modified after city officials met with a group of stakeholders, including landlords, property managers, tenant advocates, pest control workers and state health officials to discuss it. City Manager William Bridgeo said it was not a perfect document because it was adopted quickly to address the emergency at hand.

Multiple changes to the ordinance were made after the meetings, including that its rules would apply to all rental buildings in the city, unlike the first version of the ordinance, in which the rules applied only to multi-unit buildings.

At least one landlord, as well as Pine Tree Legal and Augusta Housing Authority representatives involved in the stakeholders group, said bedbugs can be a problem in duplexes and mobile home rentals, not just in larger apartment buildings, so the same rules should apply to them, too.

The ordinance also includes new language that states tenants can be held responsible for treatment costs if they don’t cooperate with efforts by landlords and pest control agents to get rid of bedbugs. That includes not following instructions for cleaning and other preparations, or not allowing pest control workers access to treat their unit for bedbugs.

“A tenant that is proven to have failed to comply with reasonable measures to control the infestation may be held responsible for any ongoing infestation treatment,” the proposed new ordinance language states.

The ordinance specifies that tenants should notify their landlords if they know or suspect there is an infestation of bedbugs in their rental unit, and they shall not attempt to treat the infestation themselves.

City Manager William Bridgeo said Tuesday all those changes were recommendations of the stakeholders group.

Parker Adams, of Pine State Pest Solutions, said at one of the stakeholder meetings that tenants trying to get rid of bedbugs themselves, using over-the-counter sprays or repellents, can make the problem worse by spreading the bugs throughout an apartment building.

“They may try to do some self treatments which, ultimately, will make the rest of the building worse,” Adams said. “The over-the-shelf stuff, they spray it and it becomes a repellent, and pushes (the bedbugs) out into the rest of the building, into ceilings. … Often we find self-treatment results in a real infestation, as opposed to a more routine situation.”

City councilors are scheduled to discuss the proposed bedbug ordinance at their informational meeting Thursday in council chambers at Augusta City Center. Councilors are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., enter into an executive session to discuss a real estate matter, then return to public session.

Councilors on Thursday also are scheduled to:

• Discuss a proposal to name the track at Cony in honor of late track and field coach Taylor Harmon;

• Hear an update on efforts to have AARP designate Augusta as an Age Friendly Community;

• Discuss recommendations on how to dispose of properties acquired through nonpayment of taxes;

• discuss a proposed agreement with the state Department of Transportation to allow it to have trees removed from a city cemetery abutting the state-owned, city-run Augusta State Airport; and

• recognize Barbara Wardwell, who is retiring after 12 years as the city clerk and treasurer.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @kedwardskj

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