Published December 19, 2013 in the Rutland Herald Revised Rental Registry ordinance headed to Select Board By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — A very different rental registry ordinance is on the way to the full Select Board. The Springfield Select Board’s ordinance subcommittee — made up of Select Board members Michael Knoras and Stephanie Gibson Thompson — heard Tuesday afternoon from about a half dozen local landlords, and there was very little opposition to the rewritten document. Gone is the controversial requirement for a local town fire and safety inspection, something landlords viewed as an unnecessary and potentially costly duplication. Landlord Walter Pluess said his apartments are inspected by the state, his insurance company and federal Section 8 inspectors, and another inspection was more than he and others could stand. “Sometimes they even oppose each other,” said Pluess, who said he had 18 apartments in Springfield. “I don’t have a problem meeting code,” Pluess said, referring to state fire and safety standards for public buildings. Pluess said it was “unfortunate” that there were landlords in town who had substandard apartments. Pluess and another landlord, Ed Foster, said they felt the rental registry as proposed was “a reasonable ordinance.” In August, voters failed to endorse the ordinance after a campaign led by Springfield Select Board member David Yesman, who is also a local landlord. Yesman wasn’t at Tuesday’s meeting. Springfield Fire Chief Russell Thompson, who would have played a key role in the original ordinance, said that there were substandard — and very dangerous — housing situations in town. Thompson, who is also the town’s health officer, told the landlords he was interested in finding the substandard housing situations in town and would report them to the state for inspection. He said he knew the half dozen landlords who were at the ordinance meeting were already in compliance with fire-safety codes. Bill Kearns, the town’s zoning administator who would likely coordinate the rental registry, said town officials had recently learned of a rental unit that had no toilet, no septic system and the electrical system was so poor “you got a shock if you put your hand on the side of the trailer.” The landlord was running an extension cord out to the trailer, Kearns said. Kearns said state housing assistance was being used to pay the landlord. Town Attorney Stephen Ankuda, who helped draft the ordinance, said the registry will be based in Kearns’ office “because that’s where all the records are.” The ordinance now goes to the Select Board, which will schedule a first reading and a second reading of the ordinance. All changes must be made at the first reading, or the review process starts all over again. The rental registry affects all apartments, apartment buildings and single-family homes that are not owner-occupied. The Select Board’s next regular meeting is Dec. 23. Under the current plan, notification for the new registry, if approved, will go out in the 2014 tax bill.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Revised Rental Registry ordinance headed to Select Board
A very different rental registry ordinance is on the way to the full Select Board.
Published December 19, 2013 in the Rutland Herald Revised Rental Registry ordinance headed to Select Board By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — A very different rental registry ordinance is on the way to the full Select Board. The Springfield Select Board’s ordinance subcommittee — made up of Select Board members Michael Knoras and Stephanie Gibson Thompson — heard Tuesday afternoon from about a half dozen local landlords, and there was very little opposition to the rewritten document. Gone is the controversial requirement for a local town fire and safety inspection, something landlords viewed as an unnecessary and potentially costly duplication. Landlord Walter Pluess said his apartments are inspected by the state, his insurance company and federal Section 8 inspectors, and another inspection was more than he and others could stand. “Sometimes they even oppose each other,” said Pluess, who said he had 18 apartments in Springfield. “I don’t have a problem meeting code,” Pluess said, referring to state fire and safety standards for public buildings. Pluess said it was “unfortunate” that there were landlords in town who had substandard apartments. Pluess and another landlord, Ed Foster, said they felt the rental registry as proposed was “a reasonable ordinance.” In August, voters failed to endorse the ordinance after a campaign led by Springfield Select Board member David Yesman, who is also a local landlord. Yesman wasn’t at Tuesday’s meeting. Springfield Fire Chief Russell Thompson, who would have played a key role in the original ordinance, said that there were substandard — and very dangerous — housing situations in town. Thompson, who is also the town’s health officer, told the landlords he was interested in finding the substandard housing situations in town and would report them to the state for inspection. He said he knew the half dozen landlords who were at the ordinance meeting were already in compliance with fire-safety codes. Bill Kearns, the town’s zoning administator who would likely coordinate the rental registry, said town officials had recently learned of a rental unit that had no toilet, no septic system and the electrical system was so poor “you got a shock if you put your hand on the side of the trailer.” The landlord was running an extension cord out to the trailer, Kearns said. Kearns said state housing assistance was being used to pay the landlord. Town Attorney Stephen Ankuda, who helped draft the ordinance, said the registry will be based in Kearns’ office “because that’s where all the records are.” The ordinance now goes to the Select Board, which will schedule a first reading and a second reading of the ordinance. All changes must be made at the first reading, or the review process starts all over again. The rental registry affects all apartments, apartment buildings and single-family homes that are not owner-occupied. The Select Board’s next regular meeting is Dec. 23. Under the current plan, notification for the new registry, if approved, will go out in the 2014 tax bill.
Published December 19, 2013 in the Rutland Herald Revised Rental Registry ordinance headed to Select Board By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — A very different rental registry ordinance is on the way to the full Select Board. The Springfield Select Board’s ordinance subcommittee — made up of Select Board members Michael Knoras and Stephanie Gibson Thompson — heard Tuesday afternoon from about a half dozen local landlords, and there was very little opposition to the rewritten document. Gone is the controversial requirement for a local town fire and safety inspection, something landlords viewed as an unnecessary and potentially costly duplication. Landlord Walter Pluess said his apartments are inspected by the state, his insurance company and federal Section 8 inspectors, and another inspection was more than he and others could stand. “Sometimes they even oppose each other,” said Pluess, who said he had 18 apartments in Springfield. “I don’t have a problem meeting code,” Pluess said, referring to state fire and safety standards for public buildings. Pluess said it was “unfortunate” that there were landlords in town who had substandard apartments. Pluess and another landlord, Ed Foster, said they felt the rental registry as proposed was “a reasonable ordinance.” In August, voters failed to endorse the ordinance after a campaign led by Springfield Select Board member David Yesman, who is also a local landlord. Yesman wasn’t at Tuesday’s meeting. Springfield Fire Chief Russell Thompson, who would have played a key role in the original ordinance, said that there were substandard — and very dangerous — housing situations in town. Thompson, who is also the town’s health officer, told the landlords he was interested in finding the substandard housing situations in town and would report them to the state for inspection. He said he knew the half dozen landlords who were at the ordinance meeting were already in compliance with fire-safety codes. Bill Kearns, the town’s zoning administator who would likely coordinate the rental registry, said town officials had recently learned of a rental unit that had no toilet, no septic system and the electrical system was so poor “you got a shock if you put your hand on the side of the trailer.” The landlord was running an extension cord out to the trailer, Kearns said. Kearns said state housing assistance was being used to pay the landlord. Town Attorney Stephen Ankuda, who helped draft the ordinance, said the registry will be based in Kearns’ office “because that’s where all the records are.” The ordinance now goes to the Select Board, which will schedule a first reading and a second reading of the ordinance. All changes must be made at the first reading, or the review process starts all over again. The rental registry affects all apartments, apartment buildings and single-family homes that are not owner-occupied. The Select Board’s next regular meeting is Dec. 23. Under the current plan, notification for the new registry, if approved, will go out in the 2014 tax bill.
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Fire Chief on a witch hunt - First he states as though in fact that there is substandard housing in town:
ReplyDeleteSpringfield Fire Chief Russell Thompson, who would have played a key role in the original ordinance, said that there were substandard — and very dangerous — housing situations in town.
Then he essentially contradicts himself by stating that he wants to search it out - as in he doesn't really know that there is substandard housing, but he's sure he'll find it if there is:
Thompson, who is also the town’s health officer, told the landlords he was interested in finding the substandard housing situations in town and would report them to the state for inspection.
The Fire Chief needs to spend more of his time studying firefighting and improve his record there before turning to inspections of rental property.
Dave yesman is this you??? Lol
DeleteDave Yesman --- conflict of interest anyone?
ReplyDeleteYES!!!
DeleteSo did this ordinance receive an annointing from Wendi Germain and the Housing Authority Director? Can't pass stay in place without their blessing. Did they telephone each of the landlords to get their approval, otherwise someone may say they didn't bother to call them.
ReplyDelete