News Transcript letters 2/14/07

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Recommendations cover broad spectrum of landlord-tenant issues


I must express concern about the unjustified focus on a single recommendation out of the 15 made recently by the Freehold Borough Rental Advi-sory Committee - that the Borough Council consider the feasibility of an ordinance that some other towns have adopted, which would require anyone renting an apartment or home to present valid proof of citizenship or permanent residency.

This misplaced focus is due at least in part to the action of one of our committee members, who released his opinion to the press prior to the public announcement of the recommendations.

While the committee understood his objection to this item, his rogue action seems to have resulted in shifting attention from all of our suggestions to only one controversial item.

This focus is exacerbated by media headlines like "Illegals Would be Barred as Tenants Under Proposed Law" (Asbury Park Press, Feb. 8) and "Ban on Renting to Illegals May be Requested" (News Transcript, Feb. 7).

Upon examination of the language chosen by my fellow volunteers, one can see that we are recommending this not for adoption, but only for consideration by the Borough Council and its legal and other advisers.

If one examines the complete list of recommendations, it can be seen that many of them address the irresponsibility of absentee landlords who neglect the exterior and interior of their property.

This neglect results in hazardous living conditions for tenants of these landlords, quality of life problems for neighboring residents, and lower property values for the whole community. Neglectful landlords in turn contribute to a degraded sense of community in our neighborhoods.

Other recommendations deal with code enforcement issues such as increasing fines, the administering of fines, inspections, and increasing code enforcement personnel. One of our recommendations (which includes five sub-recommen-dations) deals with imple-menting educational forums for landlords and tenants.

The committee was formed to research potential solutions to the rental property situation here in the borough. We put forth tremendous effort and skillfully crafted a fair and comprehensive set of recommen-dations. The mayor and council have begun to consider each one of them.

I am optimistic that tenants whose welfare is disregarded by inconsiderate landlords and homeowners who experience daily frustration with neighboring rental properties will find some relief.



Maureen Haley

chairwoman

Rental Property Advisory Committee

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Resident calls on committee member to leave position


Freehold Borough Mayor Michael Wilson has reached out across our community, issuing many public appointments over the years. His judgment in making qualified appointments in the past has been fair and judicious. Appointees are expected to work as an extension of the trust the public has bestowed in our mayor.

When an appointee violates the public trust, the breach needs to be corrected. So when Frank Argote-Freyre, an appointee to the (rental advisory committee), embarks on a campaign to impede the efforts of the very committee he has been entrusted to serve, it is rational to ask Mr. Freyre to step down from all of his appointed committees, stat.

Mr. Freyre used his personal agenda to taint his participation in the borough's code enforcement (efforts), fouled the work of his fellow committee members, and has driven a wedge of mistrust and suspicion with his involvement in other committees he serves.

Mr. Freyre has enlisted in a personal endeavor offering ill advice, that tenants stonewall code enforcement efforts, while at the same time he served on the code enforcement committee whose purpose is to craft a housing code that will improve both the tenants' and the community's quality of life. This conduct is unconscionable, violates the voters' trust and calls for his committee removal.

Being on a committee should not stifle anyone's right to freedom of speech, this is not a first amendment issue. This is an issue of commitment, honesty to your fellow committee members, respect to all voters and their elected official who appointed you.

Mr. Freyre, please show your esteem to the greater community and to all your neighbors. You were appointed, not elected, so please thank the mayor and step down. The community will understand that you cannot serve with a clear conscience if you strongly feel your commitment to serve on our committees is an immediate compromise of your personal beliefs; it is your time to go.

Mr. Mayor, if Mr. Freyre will not step down, we hope that you do the right thing for this community that has elected you.

T. E. Miller

Freehold Borough

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