Less than four months after an assault in Orono, the Town Council unanimously passed an ordinance meant to prevent similar crimes.
The Town Council on Monday approved an updated version of Orono’s disorderly property ordinance that was done in response to an assault in April.
The most notable change is an increase in the fines for tenants and landlords, with penalties ranging from $300 to $600 and the option to double the fines for certain violations.
The changes aim to crack down on large, loud parties that residents say have been linked to assaults across town. The Good Neighbor Committee, a subcommittee of the council, has been working on an updated version of the disorderly property ordinance since June. The committee included multiple council members, three landlords, residents and one University of Maine student.
The ordinance will be enacted on Aug. 18 after it was approved as an emergency amendment. The City Council approved the emergency actions because it wanted the ordinance to be in place before University of Maine students return to campus later this month.
Multiple landlords spoke out against the changes during a July 28 council meeting while residents spoke in support. Landlords said they couldn’t change their leases to fit with the changes because it’s too late in the process. Before the meeting, landlords said the changes disproportionately affect them compared with other home owners in town.
City councilors said Orono police will use discretion when warning and educating residents who violate the ordinance in the coming months. The council decided to not change the first offense to a warning.
