Mobile Home Rent Control Board

MINUTES CHICOPEE MOBILEHOME RENT CONTROL BOARD July 22, 2015 @ 6:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT Sharyn Riley, Joshua Clark, Lester Gagne ALSO PRESENT Christine Pikula, Attorney to the Board Chantal Paul, Secretary OLD BUSINESS Joshua Clark: Robert Hopkins is not here tonight so is there a motion to elect a chair? Sharyn Riley: I make a motion to elect Joshua Clark as the Chair in an acting capacity. Lester Gagne: Second. Joshua Clark: Motion has been made and seconded to elect myself as the Chair for tonight’s meeting. Are there any questions, comments or concerns on the motion? All in favor. Sharyn and Lester: I. Motion passes unanimously. Joshua Clark: Is there a motion to approve the minutes of the May 11, 2015 meeting? Sharyn Riley: I make the motion. Lester Gagne: I second. Joshua Clark: All in favor, oppose? Sharyn and Lester: Aye. Joshua Clark: Motion carries. Motion passes unanimously. Joshua Clark: As we do in all these meetings, we will read the rules of the Chicopee Mobilehome Rent Control Board. Reads Rules… Marc Dugre: I am Longport LLC DBA Westover Trailer Park’s Accountant. Last rent increase was March 1, 2012. Currently the rent is $265.00, that includes the $6.00 City fee. 1 Requesting a monthly rental fee of $30.00 per trailer site, which would result in a monthly rental fee of $295.00. This is based on real estate tax, water and sewer fees, trash disposal, plowing and maintenance of the new pump station. Sharyn Riley: Marc, When you were given the breakdown of the rent increase, you mentioned that of the $30.00, $21.00 pertains to water, sewer, real estate. Do you have a breakdown of how much it is for each of the other ones? Joshua Clark: Any other questions? Lester Gagne: I have a question, Marc, in looking at the breakdown I have a couple questions as to how you came up with your figure for the snow plowing. Can you explain how you came up with the $4,930 when you have 5 or 6 pages of invoices from Marion. Marc Dugre: Inaudible. Lester Gagne: Another question is the pump station, what you indicated to us is that it’s been free so far, the previous owner purchased it and did not pass that cost along to the tenants, am I understanding that correctly? Marc Dugre: The previous owner installed the pump…there was no cost to anyone because it was never part of the rent increase. The pump backed up after new owners bought the park and they had to replace 3 pumps. Needs maintenance every few months. They are finding baby wipes, which is a major problem. Lester Gagne: Have the owners looked at a long term maintenance program? Sharyn Riley: I don’t have the last increase here with me so I am curious as to real estate, we don’t have any control over what it’s going to be, but water and sewer, you do a have a little bit of control because it’s based on consumption. $15,000 seems like a pretty big increase to me. Do we know if there were issues, leakage, etc. Owner: We checked consumption and it’s less. Lot 53 leaks once a month, we dig it up again and again. Joshua Clark: Is there anyone that would like to make a presentation on behalf of the tenants of the Westover Trailer Park? Joshua Clark: So having done the math, I will read it for the audience. The real estate tax increase is proposed to be $4.57 for the 78 lots for twelve months, the trash disposal fee $2.37 for the 78 lots for twelve months, the water and sewer $16.75, plowing $4.21 and the pump station is $3.16, which brings us to the $31.06, but the owners would like to do $30.00, but having done the math, that’s what we’re looking at. Does anyone want to make a comment or a motion? Sharyn Riley: I think it’s pretty cut and dry. Real estate…it is what it is at $4.57. 2  Water and Sewer… Sharyn Riley: It’s a big increase, but I know it’s not unique to the park, all City of Chicopee residents are dealing with the same thing. Lester Gagne: I have a question with reference to water. It only pumps what goes in, correct? We are charged with the sewage. It is self-contained. No leakage? Sharyn Riley: It is a big increase, but it is what it is. Plowing… Sharyn Riley: When you hire a contractor, do you get quotes to try and get the best price? Owner: Marion has been the best. Pump Station Sharyn Riley: Over the years when we address any capital improvements, we always make sure that the work has been done before we address it as part of any rent increase. It sounds like there’s more work to be done. Joshua Clark: I want to ask a question about the pump station. You mention your lot and his lot. Is that at all related to the pump station? Owner: No, they are responsible. Sharyn Riley: I’ll make a motion to approve the increase for $30.00 Lester Gagne: Second. Joshua Clark: Motion has been made and seconded to approve the rent increase for $30.00. Are there any questions, comments or concerns on the motion? Seeing none…all those in favor? Sharyn and Lester: Aye. Joshua Clark: Motion carries. Motion passes unanimously. The rent increase will take place on September 1, 2015. Motion to adjourn at 6:50 p.m. 3