Wheel Estates Tenants Association Withdraws Rent Increase

The Mobile Home Rent Control Board requested the Wheel Estates Tenants Association correct and resubmit its application for a rent increase.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Wheel Estates Tenants Association withdrew  a petition to increase rent on Monday because of an incorrect application.

The Mobile Home rent Control Board postponed postponed the petition advocating for a $40 rent increase until January.

Because the application was based on projected expenses and not past expenses, Chairman Wayne Wilkinson asked association President Sandy Overlock to withdraw the application without prejudice and reapply.

"We look at the last 12 month's expenses and see if a rent increase is warranted," Wilkinson said. "It has nothing to do with what you project ... essentially you set this up incorrectly, and we are looking at projections."

Wilkinson said he also and "serious concerns" about the numbers used, and noted the provided expense sheet only has information for 10 months.

"We have a statement from 2013 that doesn't break anything down by month so we don't know where you are going with that," Wilkinson said. "We are missing three months and it doesn't match your expenses in any way shape or form because they are based on two different time frames."

Wilkinson added that the association or accountant did not sign the 2013 income tax return provided to the board and it cannot be used in the process.

Overlock said the rate hike was based on anticipated increases in utilities as well as infrastructure projects that needed to be completed.

Wilkinson said capital projects need to be submitted separately because any decided increases must be put into a formula that only increases rent until funds are recouped.

The association was allowed to raise rents last year so the tenants could purchase the park from Morgan Management. Wilkinson reminded the representatives that the association had been given benefit of the doubt on expenses at that time because of the financing requirements.

Wheel Estates became one of the first tenant-owned parks in the region but the association was asked to come back the next year in case figures needed to be adjusted.

Wilkinson asked that the association resubmit its petition toward the end of January with complete information.

McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:32PM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course. 

 

The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication. 

 

"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."

 

LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates. 

 

"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.

 

The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.

 

"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back.