Deputy Development Director Kasie Foulk presents to the housing committee and council the correct ways to go about filing a code violation report. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

There are various ways for someone to report a code violation or concern in the city to the Department of Development.

Crystal Surdyk, city development director, and Kasie Foulk, deputy director of development, took the time during Monday’s meeting of the City Council’s Housing Committee to talk about the right ways to go about doing that.

Foulk put together a presentation that was shown at both the Housing Committee and full work session on how to correctly report a concern.

“We’re going to walk everyone through how to report a concern and how to file a code complaint, and then hopefully you guys can practice this and you will be able to teach your constituents how to do it,” Surdyk said. “There are different ways and she’s broken it down really simply for everyone.”

Foulk began with how to report a code concern by phone. Constituents can call the DOD office manager, Elizabeth Torres at the main line 716-483-7541. If Torres does not answer, Foulk said it would probably be her answering, but added that if no one answers then the caller needs to leave a message.

“When you leave a voicemail please include the concern, the location and your contact information,” Foulk said. “It’s vital to know if you’re the one that lives there or if you are filing a complaint against a neighbor or if it’s something you just saw as you’re driving down or walking down the street, and to have your contact information.”

If the caller is the tenant the DOD will need to be able to get in contact with them to be able to go in and do inspections, but if a neighbor is the one filing a complaint then the contact information is less needed and it can remain anonymous, and it is the same for all other complaints.

Complaints can also be filed in person by coming to visit the DOD and Torres on the fourth floor of city hall. Foulk said the same information will be needed as when calling with a complaint. Code complaints are also accepted through email, dod@jamestownny.gov, which goes to Torres and a few others, so the email is monitored at all times. Again, the same information is needed; the concern, location and person’s contact information.

Code violations can be reported online as well, at jamestownny.gov, by clicking on the E-Forms and Online Applications link, and following the path from there to the reporting a concern application, which again requires the person filing the complaint to put in the same information and a description of what is happening. There is also a button for it to remain anonymous. If someone puts in their email as well they will receive updates.

The final way to submit a complaint is through the app, GovAlert, which is available in the app store. The app includes a geo location and allows the user to put in their current location as the place with the code violation or there is the option to search for the location.

There are a few ways the DOD does not want someone filing a complaint, including contacting Surdyk during council meetings or directly anywhere else, or directly contacting a code enforcement officer, as they are very busy and it might not be their case. Foulk said people should not leave letters under the DOD’s door either. The only person that should be receiving a complaint is Torres.

It was noted that filing a complaint through the website is the easiest, as the phone is constantly ringing and they are not always able to answer, but Foulk reemphasized that those who call should leave a voicemail if there is no answer. It was also noted that sometimes constituents will check with council members about cases if they do not have an answer or see an update, and council members will then reach out to the DOD. Foulk added that they do not give out too much information as well, and if someone calls and is not directly involved they will not tell them a lot, just for the sake of privacy.

Surdyk added that the DOD will not call people back for updates because of having so many open cases, so if someone wants an update really the only way is to check the box online, but it will still be very minimal, again because of privacy.

“Just because you complained and submitted your complaint online, you’re not going to automatically get a call or email back to give you an update every step of the way,” Surdyk said. “That is not a reasonable thing. There has to be a little bit of trust that we’re working the case.”