The expected vote on the proposed legislation governing residential rental units in Northampton did not occur during the April 19 meeting of council. The hearing and vote will now be on the agenda for the May 2 meeting.

The May 2 date strays from the traditional Thursday meeting. A hearing will begin 6:30 p.m. The regular meeting remains 7:30 p.m.

Councilman Robert McHale, who chairs the committee that wrote the proposed ordinance, recommended the meeting and hearing be moved. Although no specific reason was given for changing the meeting date, there is reportedly another event in the borough.

Borough Manager LeRoy Brobst later said the proposed legislation is still being tweaked, noting the minor changes involve wording.

The proposed ordinance would require landlords to pay a registration fee for each unit, to allow a borough code officer to schedule inspections of the property, to pay inspection fees and to correct unsafe conditions.

When council President Anthony Lopsonzski Jr. asked if anyone from the public wanted to address council, Nancy Novogratz reported that she has lived in several apartments in the borough over the years and mentioned seeing apartment windows where tenants had to use plastic sheets to ward off the cold.

Borough Solicitor Steven Goudsouzian interjected, saying it was not the time for such comment. He reminded her that she will have the opportunity at the May 2 hearing on the issue.

Magisterial District Judge Joan Marinkovits then took the floor. Mentioning she is a landlord, Marinkovits said, “If a tenant has an issue with a landlord, the rental fee could be deposited in a bank and a hearing then held before a district judge.

“Police are not needed,” she said.

Goudsouzian suggested Marinkovits refrain from further comment as she raised another issue, reminding her that the issue was not on the agenda.

There are a reported 1,365 apartment units in the borough.