In an ironic twist, Village of Brockport officials had to cancel a public hearing on proposed changes to housing codes that address overcrowding in the village because attendees far exceeded maximum capacity of the village hall. The village hall capacity is 49 and spectators, landlords and their attorneys and SUNY students more than tripled that number as they attempted to crowd into the meeting room. Amid much grumbling from spectators, Mayor Josephine Matela cleared the room and promised to reschedule the public hearing as soon as possible. The public hearing was to address proposed amendments to Chapter 58 of the Village of Brockport Code that relate to "elimination by amortization of boarding houses and rooming houses (and any related similar uses, by other names or designations);" and changes to "eliminate by amortization of occupancy by more than three unrelated persons in residential dwelling units in properties acquired prior to April 17, 1995." If the new codes were approved, landlords would be forced to stop renting boarding-style rooms and put a stop to landlords renting apartments to more than three unrelated people to live in one apartment. It is unknown by Brockport officials as to how many apartments are being rented to three or more unrelated individuals. Trustee Mort Wexler said previously that the law was intended to cut down the number of people who are in an apartment - for obvious safety reasons - and he has no problem with that. What he does have an issue with, however, is the legality of the proposal. At the meeting, Trustee Carrie Maziarz urged the mayor to try to schedule the meeting prior to the students' leaving for the semester and pointed out that graduation was the third week in May. Prior to the meeting, Matt Hendricks, spokesperson for the SUNY students, said the village's proposed code changes were a violation of the students' civil liberties. "Economically it just doesn't make sense," Hendricks said. "With SUNY implementing a new plan for student housing and the village wanting to implement new codes would monopolize individual rights." Hendricks thinks the proposed changes are too drastic. "If the village is concerned with college housing, then create quiet hours that would take effect after a certain time," he said. "It's an individual choice where a person wants to live. I'm a student who pays my own rent and I should be able to choose where I want to live." Landlord Craig Ferguson, who owns one rental property, said the mayor has a valid point about the safety and well being of students. "The mayor has also pinpointed 23 properties but I'd like to know if they are all in violation of overcrowding? I just think this safety code is being painted on with too wide of a brush," Ferguson said. Resident and mayoral hopeful Glenn Emerson spoke at the end of the regular board meeting about the canceled public hearing. "I take exception to the idea that the students are going to be the hardest hit by these new codes," he said. The public hearing has been rescheduled for Monday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at the Brockport High School Auditorium. |
