PORT JERVIS, NY — Council member and Code and Legislative Committee chair David Bavoso introduced four local laws at the March 14 Port Jervis Common Council meeting, and all were voted to be scheduled for public hearings at the next meeting on March 28.

Local law number six would establish a real estate transfer tax that will be the buyer’s responsibility, of $2 for every $1,000 of purchase price.

Council member Stan Siegel voiced opposition to the tax and said, “I hope to have a lot of people coming to the public hearing [on March 28]; this is not a good time for us to increase any more taxes or fees.”

Local law number seven would further regulate dogs in the city. The council passed a motion to allow the city council to set licensing fees from time to time. The second change would allow the animal control officer to make a determination as to whether or not any specific dog is dangerous. If a dog is determined to be dangerous, the officer could order that the dog be outfitted with an electronic chip.

Local law number eight would change the residency requirement for a person appointed for a city position. The city has the option to wave the residency requirement “if they feel it’s in the best interest of city, not to encourage hiring out of town.”

Discussion followed when council member Kristin Trovei said the change was not brought up at the last meeting, and she had not had a chance to examine or to talk about it. Council member Sarah Hendry asked what positions the new law would apply to.

Mayor Kelly Decker said the waiver requirement assessment would be made every time with a simple majority vote.

He said, “It’s not a blanket waiver, but for every time when there’s a position to be filled, this would come up.” The law simply gives the council the ability to waive the requirement if it wants to.

Public law number nine would change the city zoning code regarding litigation. The city recently resolved nonconforming property issues with litigation, and the proposed new law will allow similar cases to be dealt with through the zoning code.