The City of Zanesville Public Safety Committee will convene for a special meeting Thursday evening to vote on the most recent amendments made to the City’s nuisance abatement ordinance before it is presented to Council for a third and final reading next week.

The vote has been delayed so committee members could take into account public opinion and make changes to the legislation as needed.

As it is currently written, the nuisance abatement ordinance would give the City more legal power to address chronic nuisance properties, such as those with recurring criminal activity, substance abuse violations, sex offenses, weapon violations and health, safety or sanitation violations.

According to committee chair Rob Sharrer, the largest proposed change to the ordinance since the last special meeting on Dec. 17 is the elimination of the private cause for action section, which was intended to give neighbors the ability to declare properties nuisances and collect damages if proven.

Previously, Sharrer said that section would present too many complications to the City if passed in the ordinance.

However, Sharrer mentioned that the private cause for action section could be added back into the ordinance if needed.

That change, among others, will be voted on by the committee before the amendments are recommended to Council as a whole.

The committee will meet in the City Hall first floor conference room at 5 p.m. Thursday.

For more information on the nuisance abatement ordinance, see also: Council passes first reading of nuisance abatement ordinance ; Final nuisance abatement ordinance vote likely to be delayed for revision