Council Holds First Hearings for New Ordinances

Before the December meeting of the Whitehall Town Council, held Monday, December 15th at the Whitehall Town Hall, readings of two new town ordinances, Ordinances 2024-5 and 2024-6, were introduced for public comment.

Ordinance 2024-5 addresses regulating the use of campers and RVs within the town limits, establishes permit requirements and time limitations for temporary living and provides penalties for violations.

Ordinance 2024-6 addresses regulating the occupancy of vehicles and temporary shelters within the city limits.

Audience member Bridget Morse questioned whether the ordinances were anti-homeless bills and said one ordinance overrides the other and vice versa - eventually suggesting that the two ordinances be combined for better clarification. She also added that timeframes were not clear for either ordinance.

Stan Olsen was also in attendance and questioned whether the ordinances “had teeth” that could be enforced by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.

Town Treasurer Kennedy Kleinsasser noted the two could potentially be combined, and that could be discussed during the next hearing/reading in January after conferring with the town attorney.

OTHER NEWS:

• Lakota DiNapoli thanked the Council for addressing her previous concerns about a neighbor's continuously running generators. However, she said more action is needed as there is a question as to where the sewage is going from RVs parked near her home.

• The Town Hall will be closed December 24-25.

• The January Town Council meeting will held on Tuesday, January 21 at 7 PM.