Burlington city councilors on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to an ordinance that would significantly increase penalties on owners of vacant buildings. Under the current ordinance, the city can fine buildings owners $750 per quarter, or $3,000 per year, no matter how long the building stays empty. The proposal, however, would introduce higher fees the longer a building is unused. For buildings vacant less than a year, the city would charge $1,500 per quarter or $6,000 per year. For those left empty for at least four years, the fine would rise to $4,000 per quarter or $16,000 per year. Several councilors said they think the fees could be even higher, and that their constituents had suggested the same. Councilor Becca Brown McKnight (D-Ward 6) said negligent landlords need to be held accountable for blight. "Running your property-based business with a total disregard for the negative impact you have on your community is about to get a lot more expensive," she said. Burlington isn't riddled with vacant buildings, but the handful it does have are highly visible and have become magnets for graffiti and crime. Seven Days examined the issue in a 2023 cover story about six vacant commercial buildings, plus the city's own Memorial Auditorium. A year later, only one of those properties has been revamped: the former Duncan's Auto on St. Paul Street is now the cannabis shop Hey Bud. The council's ordinance committee will review the proposal before it comes back to the full council for a vote. [content-1] Earlier in the meeting, councilors agreed to put a charter change on the ballot for Town Meeting Day in March. The change would make it easier for the city to alter certain rental regulations. Under the current charter, landlords must provide between 90 and 120 days notice before terminating a lease. Tenants looking to move out must give landlords notice equal to "two rental periods." But if the city wants to change these provisions, it would first have to get permission from the legislature and governor — the standard procedure for all charter changes. Councilor Evan Litwin (D-Ward 7), who introduced the ballot item, said that process is too cumbersome. The proposal would instead allow the city to define appropriate notice periods in an ordinance, which could be amended on the local level. "My proposal is to allow for local control of that conversation so that we can react nimbly and responsively to the unique…