COUNCIL MEETS WITH APPEALS BOARD

The Cape Girardeau City Council today will conduct a special study session with the city's Board of Appeals to iron out differences in a proposed property maintenance code.

The debate over whether the city ought to adopt the law, which is aimed at ensuring maintenance of buildings in the city, has been waged between tenant and landlord groups for nearly two years.

Although today's 5 p.m. meeting is open to the public, the study session won't include a public hearing or a time for public comment.

In July, the board of appeals recommended the city council adopt a slightly revised draft of the Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) version of the code.

But city council members in September sent the measure back to the board with recommended revisions.

Appeals board members complained that the council so dismantled the code that it was "worthless" as amended. In October, the advisory board essentially restored their original recommendation and sent it back to the council.

At its Nov. 15 meeting, the city council agreed to meet with the board of appeals to discuss the measure.