Pine Valley Park Owners Looking For Rent Increase

CHESHIRE, Mass. — The owners of Pine Valley Mobile Home Park are asking the town for a 57 percent rent increase.

Town Administrator Mark Webber presented the Selectmen on Tuesday with a memorandum of questions to ask Morgan Management, the park owner, about its proposed rent increase of $256 a month to $401.

"Wow to say the very least," Chairwoman Carol Francesconi said. "What planet are they living on?"

Last week, the Selectmen received a letter from Morgan Management's attorney asking for a general rent increase as well as an increase for capital improvements.

The Selectmen were confused with the letter because it was believed Morgan Management sold the park last year, however, the mobile home park management company is still the owner.

Webber encouraged the Selectmen, which also operates as the Mobile Home Rent Control Board, to inquire about expenses that would inform the increase. He noted that Morgan provided no explanation for the increases.

"You have to play close attention to this balance sheet," Webber said. "That needs to be scrutinized because that becomes the basis for their petition. I think you almost have to go line for line on that."

He said Morgan Management added capital improvements in the petition that included repaving work. This would be a cost of $225,170, which the company wants paid back in five years.

Webber said five years was not enough time.

"They want to do that over five years and that to me does not seem appropriate," he said. "That should be 10 to 15 years to get your money back."

The rent control board will meet Monday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. at the community center to discuss the petition.

In other business:

• Webber notified the board that the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission received a grant to help towns that will be affected by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System compliance.

He said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-mandated program has had a "moving target" completion date and the town has dealt with it before.

"We were under the gun a few years ago and we spend a good deal of money trying to get this started ... and then they said never mind," Webber said. "Now it's rearing its ugly head again."

He said BRPC will create a working group for towns affected by the mandates and that Cheshire should allocate between $5,000 and $20,000 in next year's budget for consultation and engineering costs.

• The Selectmen awarded the emergency water repair bid to Waterman Construction. Out of the two bids opened, Waterman Construction's rates were equal or less than the other applicant, William J Keller & Sons Construction.

Waterman Construction owner Francis Waterman also serves as a water commissioner and must file a conflict of interest form.

• The town election will take place May 2. Open offices include three-year terms for moderator, a selectman, assessor, Board of Health member, cemetery commissioner, water commissioner, three constables, a Northern Berkshire Vocational School Committee position, and an Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee position.

Also open is a two-year term and a five-year term on the Planning Board.

Nomination papers can be picked up at the town clerk's office and must be returned by March 14.

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