Westbrook city councilors will consider a new rule that would require repayment when tenants are forced into emergency housing.

After a tumultuous few months in which dozens of Westbrook apartment residents were displaced due to code violations, landlords could soon be forced to pay for emergency housing and other assistance that the city provides for tenants.

The Westbrook City Council will consider next week an amendment to the city code that stipulates an “obligation for reimbursement,” and defines a “procedure for the collection of reimbursement.”

Either by fire or building code issues, more than 50 people living in the city were displaced, at least temporarily, between June 18 and late July. City officials, who have said the code violations were dangerous and required immediate attention, are showing a continued focus on problem properties and an expanded attention to code issues.

Natalie Burns, the city attorney, drafted the amendment language, which will be presented to the City Council Monday, Sept. 14.

“It’s something we’ve been looking at,” said Rick Gouzie, the Westbrook code enforcement officer Tuesday. “With the apartments we’ve been going through, the city has been picking up the tab to put them up.”

In some cases, the city was using General Assistance and other funds to put up displaced tenants and families in area hotels, most often the Super 8 Motel on Larrabee Road. While some landlords paid for emergency housing, food vouchers and other assistance, Gouzie said, others told the city they couldn’t or wouldn’t pay for their tenants.

“It will give us an avenue to recoup some of the money,” he said.

City Administrator Jerre Bryant said Tuesday that the city has not provided all the funding for emergency housing since June – with the American Red Cross of Maine covering victims of fires, as well as other sources. However, he said, the ordinance to recoup funds will be used only for “major, life-safety” code issues.

“Our hope is that we have this ordinance on the books and we never have to use it,” he said. “But we’d like a little weight behind our request that they provide the short-term emergency housing for their tenants that were displaced due to serious code violations.”

Bryant said that from discussing the proposal with Burns, he isn’t aware of any neighboring municipalities with similar ordinances.

On June 18, Westbrook officials condemned a large Brackett Street apartment building after multiple code issues were found, displacing 23 people, including 12 children. A day later, a fire destroyed a building on Pierce Street, critically injuring one resideny. On July 7, code enforcement condemned a building at 683 Main St., ousting another 13 people, and on July 27, a fire on Bridge Street displaced another dozen residents.

The ordinance language to be considered Monday makes it clear that landlords will be responsible for reimbursing the city for the costs.

“The owner of any such dwelling unit shall be responsible for reimbursement of any costs that the city incurs in providing emergency shelter or other alternative housing for any person lawfully residing in the dwelling unit at the time of the posting,” the draft says.

According to the ordinance, the costs associated can include “lodging costs, dwelling unit rental and deposit costs and any additional utility costs incurred by the city in its provision of alternative housing for displaced residents.”

After the city covers costs, it will send a bill to the property owner. According to section B of the proposed ordinance, if the owner fails to pay the costs within 30 days, the city “will be authorized to bring appropriate legal action to recover its costs …”

Bryant said that the city would not attempt to use the ordinance for small violations such as smoke alarms, instead focusing on serious violations.

Westbrook Code Enforcement Officer David Finocchietti has said that both buildings condemned recently had exposed wires and other electrical issues, including “visible sparking.” He said the buildings were evaluated after the city received anonymous calls.

The Westbrook City Council will meet at 7 p.m. in Room 114 at Westbrook High School.