—
We’re happy to see the village board exhibited some backbone last week when members decided to go to court to halt the operation of an unpermited short-term rental on Main Street.
The property, at 171-173 Main Street, is one of three shortterm rental properties owned by Ed Landers. There have been questions concerning the status, or lack, of permits at the properties.
The issue with two of the properties revolves around the requirement that the rentals be owner-occupied. Landers recently applied for a short-term rental permit for his property at 6-8 Glen Avenue saying he was residing there. If Landers was living at the Glen Avenue address, it meant he was no longer living at his Bed and Breakfast at 46 Chestnut St. According to Code Enforcement Officer Tavis Austin and Village Attorney Martin Tillapaugh, Landers claimed the Chestnut Street property was owned by a limited liability corporation and met the requirement for owner-occupancy because a member of the corporation owned a five percent stake in the property. Tillapaugh found the LLC was never filed in the Otsego Court Clerk’s office or in Albany and didn’t exist.
Austin told the board they have affidavits from people stating that Landers’ Main Street building is being used for short-term rentals.
That building, Tillapaugh said, can never be a short-term rental because it has no off-street parking. Last year, Landers tried to convince the board to allow him to use village property behind the fire hall for his tenants’ parking because he did not have enough space. The fire department had complained about Landers’ tenants blocking access to the rear of the fire hall. It had not been a problem when the building was used for long-term rentals, but the change to short-term rentals created problems, department members said.
Landers had been aware of the requirements for shortterm rentals in the village and, we believe, aware that he did not meet them, but he continued to rent on a short-term basis.
Tillapaugh told the board the only recourse the village has is to ask the Otsego County Supreme Court to issue an injunction against the short-term rentals.
As trustee Neil Weiller rightfully said, the village needs to enforce the law to protect its integrity.
It doesn’t matter whether it is Ed Landers or some other scofflaw. If the village is going to promulgate regulations and laws to govern activities in the village, it must be prepared toenforce them. If not, they become meaningless.
Our Opinion
Our Opinion: Enforcement is the right course
- Our Opinion
-
-
Our Opinion: Bassett should know better
Last week, Bassett Healthcare tried to take over two of the village’s public parking lots for the exclusive use of its employees. The lots are on East Lake Road near the entrance to Fairy Springs Park, and Bassett put up signs that said the lots are for Bassett Healthcare staff parking only.
-
Our Opinion: Support the Quiz Team
The Cooperstown high school quiz team will take on faculty in a live quiz showdown on Sunday. The event is being held to help raise money so members of the team can compete nationally in Washington, D.C. Donations will be accepted at the door. The Quiz Bowl is set to begin at 7 p.m. in the Sterling Auditorium and we encourage members of the public to go support the team in its academic endeavors.
-
Our Opinion: Vote for Pohl
Cooperstown Central School graduate Phil Pohl is among 10 finalist in the Lowe’s Senior Class Award. First off congratulations, Phil. You have always shined on and off the baseball diamond. Pohl graduated at the top of his class and was a two-time Class C New York state Player-of-the-Year while at CCS.
-
Our Opinion: Put an end to the chemicals
The use of chemical herbicides and pesticides was the main topic at a meeting of the village’s environmental conservation committee meeting Tuesday morning.
-
Our Opinion: Town board made right decision
Last week, the Otsego town board voted to grant the village’s Gateway Project “limited zoning immunity.” The decision nullified a stop work order issued to the project earlier by Otsego Town Code Enforcement Officer Hank Schecher.
-
Our Opinion: Small tax increase a good idea
The village board held its public hearing on the budget Monday night and no one showed up to voice opposition to the 2 percent tax increase approved late last month by the trustees.
-
Enjoy area activities, attractions
With the rising gas prices many people are counting pennies just to keep food on the table, much less thinking about taking a family vacation.
-
Our Opinion: Contest or not, vote
Next Tuesday is the annual village election. Residents will vote for a new mayor and two members of the board of trustees.
-
Our Opinion: Roses
Roses to the Cooperstown Concert Series for the completion of another entertaining season. The series has been providing live entertainment for the community during the fall and winter for 42 seasons. Each year the series brings that entertainment to Cooperstown through the efforts of the many volunteeers in the organization. Their efforts and the support of their patrons and sponsors adds a great deal to life in the village.
-
Our Opinion: Taking concussions seriously
Traumatic brain injury is a serious public health problem in the United States. Each year, it contributes to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability. Recent data shows that, on average, about 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury annually. It is becoming a national concern!
- More Our Opinion Headlines
-
Our Opinion: Bassett should know better
