Post by admin on Aug 16, 2007 6:11:17 GMT -5
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/0815/Front_Page/040.html
Panel head appreciates consideration of ideas
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - Members of the Freehold Borough Rental Advisory Committee were pleased with the careful consideration Borough Council members afforded each of the recommendations committee members submitted to them several months ago for review.
The committee reformed for a single meeting on July 10 and received a final disposition of each of its recommendations.
The committee's recommendations addressed quality of life issues including exploitation of tenants, overcrowding, neglecting to maintain the interior and/or exterior of rental properties, and otherwise compromising the health, safety and welfare of the community.
Borough Attorney Kerry Higgins, reviewed the status of the recommendations and drafted a document that provides the final disposition of each item submitted to the Borough Council members for their consideration.
According to Maureen Haley, who chaired the committee, panel members were pleased to see that some of their recommendations had already been enacted, such as increased fines and summonses to be given to all owners of a property found to have violations. She said she understands these actions will be subject to the final decision of the courts as each case dictates.
"I would like to have seen additional staffing in the code enforcement office, but we all understood that this was a costly proposition and that there would be budget constraints," Haley said. "Our code enforcement officers work very hard on a problem that can seem to be an overwhelming magnitude. We are hopeful that the tracking and filing software being purchased, the review of our property maintenance code and the additional weekend staffing hours will improve efficiency and effectiveness."
In addition, the protocol for receiving complaints on the quality of life telephone line has been reviewed. Haley said residents should be encouraged to report any unsafe or unsightly property they observe, but they need to feel confident that their calls will be addressed.
"These enhancements should allow for prompt acknowledgment, response and follow-up. We are also hoping that the staffing issue can be revisited in the future if necessary," Haley said.
She added that members of the committee would also like to see future inspections of statistics related to the rental situation in the borough. This would be helpful in order to determine the effectiveness of these improvements, according to the chairwoman.
Councilman Marc Le Vine, who is the council's liaison to the committee, said the panel members were brought together so they would understand what happened with their recommendations and so they could examine every response provided by borough officials.
"The feel of the committee members was favorable," Le Vine said. "They were also happy to see that several recommendations had already been implemented, such as having code enforcement officials work a half-day on Saturday, and that fines had already been increased. They saw that much of what they had worked on had borne fruit."
Le Vine said several other ideas were given to the council to ponder. He suggested that the borough host a forum run by the code enforcement department to actually walk people through the process of how code enforcement works. With this forum they will also learn what laws the department must follow.
He also suggested that the Rental Advisory Committee merge its role with that of the Multiple Dwelling Review Board. He suggested modifications to the review board adding that the review board, which currently monitors apartment dwellings, could be expanded to monitor all rental properties in Freehold Borough.
He said it may make sense to reconvene the committee at some point in order to review information and to see if progress is being made with the recommendations.
"We are dealing with safety issues and with living issues," Le Vine said. "Everyone in this town has the right to live free of noise, garbage and problems. Everyone needs to respect their town. This respect is contagious and projects a level of pride that will attract people from other towns to do business here and to live here."
Panel head appreciates consideration of ideas
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - Members of the Freehold Borough Rental Advisory Committee were pleased with the careful consideration Borough Council members afforded each of the recommendations committee members submitted to them several months ago for review.
The committee reformed for a single meeting on July 10 and received a final disposition of each of its recommendations.
The committee's recommendations addressed quality of life issues including exploitation of tenants, overcrowding, neglecting to maintain the interior and/or exterior of rental properties, and otherwise compromising the health, safety and welfare of the community.
Borough Attorney Kerry Higgins, reviewed the status of the recommendations and drafted a document that provides the final disposition of each item submitted to the Borough Council members for their consideration.
According to Maureen Haley, who chaired the committee, panel members were pleased to see that some of their recommendations had already been enacted, such as increased fines and summonses to be given to all owners of a property found to have violations. She said she understands these actions will be subject to the final decision of the courts as each case dictates.
"I would like to have seen additional staffing in the code enforcement office, but we all understood that this was a costly proposition and that there would be budget constraints," Haley said. "Our code enforcement officers work very hard on a problem that can seem to be an overwhelming magnitude. We are hopeful that the tracking and filing software being purchased, the review of our property maintenance code and the additional weekend staffing hours will improve efficiency and effectiveness."
In addition, the protocol for receiving complaints on the quality of life telephone line has been reviewed. Haley said residents should be encouraged to report any unsafe or unsightly property they observe, but they need to feel confident that their calls will be addressed.
"These enhancements should allow for prompt acknowledgment, response and follow-up. We are also hoping that the staffing issue can be revisited in the future if necessary," Haley said.
She added that members of the committee would also like to see future inspections of statistics related to the rental situation in the borough. This would be helpful in order to determine the effectiveness of these improvements, according to the chairwoman.
Councilman Marc Le Vine, who is the council's liaison to the committee, said the panel members were brought together so they would understand what happened with their recommendations and so they could examine every response provided by borough officials.
"The feel of the committee members was favorable," Le Vine said. "They were also happy to see that several recommendations had already been implemented, such as having code enforcement officials work a half-day on Saturday, and that fines had already been increased. They saw that much of what they had worked on had borne fruit."
Le Vine said several other ideas were given to the council to ponder. He suggested that the borough host a forum run by the code enforcement department to actually walk people through the process of how code enforcement works. With this forum they will also learn what laws the department must follow.
He also suggested that the Rental Advisory Committee merge its role with that of the Multiple Dwelling Review Board. He suggested modifications to the review board adding that the review board, which currently monitors apartment dwellings, could be expanded to monitor all rental properties in Freehold Borough.
He said it may make sense to reconvene the committee at some point in order to review information and to see if progress is being made with the recommendations.
"We are dealing with safety issues and with living issues," Le Vine said. "Everyone in this town has the right to live free of noise, garbage and problems. Everyone needs to respect their town. This respect is contagious and projects a level of pride that will attract people from other towns to do business here and to live here."