Staff reports 6:16 a.m.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018 6:17 am

ROCHESTER - Rochester's City Council on Tuesday swiftly enacted ordinances allowing for a fine to those setting up tents for overnight accommodations on city property and repealing the former panhandling ordinance on constitutional grounds.

The anti-tenting ordinance allows for a 100 fine per occurrence.

A Manchester panhandling agreement was struck down as unconstitutional several months ago paving the way for the decision in the Lilac City last night.

The most visible tenting option used by the homeless recently has been the acreage of Hanson Pines, where a number of tent fires occurred last summer.

There was also an instance last year in Hanson Pines where a homeless couple was found with an injured dog they had not treated for a serious injury.