The Manchester Street Committee moved a proposed change forward during the March 12 meeting to a city ordinance that prohibits openly storing abandoned motor vehicles in the city.

During the February meeting, the committee postponed the discussion that originally centered on removing the antique car exception.

The revised ordinance presented by the codes department broadens the definition of abandoned or derelict vehicles to include “any vehicle designed to travel along the ground, in the air or in the water and shall include but not limited to automobiles, recreational vehicles, (motor bikes) trucks, tractors, golf carts, campers and trailers, air planes and helicopters.”

Codes Director Britany Fiske said that the city has in place the International Property Maintenance Code that offers a provision on motor vehicles. Fiske asked for the more specific ordinance that follows ones adopted by other area municipalities.

The Street Committee sought to broaden the definition following a Safety Committee meeting in which members of the community voiced strong concerns about a camper.

Fiske said the new language would include additional “teeth” to allow for better enforcement.

“Right now, we have one in court, it was decided and he hasn’t moved it and it’s been a month or two and he’s getting fined $50 a day,” Fiske said.

“If we implement something of this nature, we can do something about it,” Fiske added, offering that the code could include impounding offending vehicles. “I want to give them every opportunity to comply.”

The committee suggested retaining the exemption for licensed vehicles.

The property maintenance codes define a derelict vehicle as one that is inoperative, in a state of major disassembly, disrepair or in the process of being stripped or dismantled outside an enclosed structure.

The matter will go before the Policies and Procedure Commission on March 26 and is anticipated to have its first reading during the April Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting.