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Things That Go Itch in the Night

By Kerri Provost

December 16, 2011

How bad has the bed bug situation gotten? Enough, apparently, to call for an amendment to the Pest Extermination Ordinance. On Monday, there will be a public hearing to allow residents to chime in on the matter.

In a letter to the Council, Mayor Segarra calls for an amendment which would fine tenants who either create or refuse to deal with bed bug situations:

November 28, 2011

Honorable rJo Winch, Council President, and

Members of the Court of Common Council

City of Hartford

550 Main Street

Hartford, CT 06103

RE: Amendment to Pest Extermination Ordinance

Dear Council President Winch:

Attached for your consideration is an amendment to Section 18-140 of the Municipal Code, the "Pest Extermination Ordinance." The amendment authorizes the Director of Health and Human Services, Director of Licenses and Inspections, or their authorized agent(s) to oversee the management of bed bug extermination efforts in infested residences throught the city of Hartford.

The creation of a program specific to bed bugs is imperative to maintaining the health and welfare of Hartford's residents because bed bugs have become a growing public health concern. The amendment requires that property owners remediate any infestation pursuant to an Integrated Pest Management Plan as approved by the Director of Health and Human Services, Director of Licenses and Inspections, or theire authorized agent(s).

The amendment imposes a penalty upon a tenant(s) who creates a condition(s) or by inaction contributes to a condition(s) which violates health requirements of Chapter 18 of the Municipal Code. The amendment also authorizes the City of Hartford to recover all expenses and/or administrative charges insured by it as a result of any inspection and/or abatement action.

Respectfully submitted,

Pedro E. Segarra

Mayor

The language of the proposed ordinance amendment can be viewed below:

Cout of Connom Council

City of Hartford

November 28, 2011

Be it Ordained byt the Court of Common Council of the City of Hartford:

Section 18-140, Pest Extermination

(a) Every occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests therein or on the premisis. Every occupant of a dwelling unit in a dewlling containing more than one (1) dwelling unit shall be responsible for such extermination whenever his dwelling unit is the only one infected. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this sections, whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a rat-proof or reasonably insect-proof condition, extermination shall be the rewponsibility of th owner. Whenever infestation exists in tow (2) or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling, or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling containing tow(2) or more dwelling units, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility of the owner.

(b) For the purposes of Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius), the owner of the dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any infestation. Only Certified Applicators, as defined in C.G.S section 22a-54 shall apply pesticides. The abatement shall consist of an Integrated Pest Management Plan as approved by the Director of Health, Director of Licenses and Inspections, or their authorized agent(s). The Integrated Pest Management Plan shall include an inspection of, and, if necessary, treatment of all peripheral dwelling units and areas,

(1) Unless otherwise indicated by the Director of Health, any occupant of a dwelling unit, who creates a condition or by inaction contributes to a condition which constitutes a violation(s) of the provisions of Chapter 18 of this code. may be penalized for such violation(s) in accordance with Section 18-12 of this Code if the occupant fails to remedy the conditions withing three weeks after receiving notice of such violation. Additionally, any occupant who so creates or contributes to said condition which constitutes a violation and through his/her action or inaction prevents owner from abating such violation(s) and/or conducting such extermination may be penalized in accordance to Section 18-12 of this Code.

(2) Whenever the furniture, clothing, equipment or personal property of the occupants or of such dwelling is found to be vermin- or insect-infested, the same shall not be moved from such quarters unless approval is received from the Director of Health, Director of Licenses and INspections, or their authorized atgent.

(3) In addition to the penalty provided in Section 18-12 of this Code, the City of Hartford may recover all expenses and/or administrative charges incurred by it as a result of any inspection and/or abatement action.

The public hearing begins at 7pm in Council Chambers of City Hall on Monday, December 19, 2011. Those wishing to speak should arrive a few minutes early.