JACKSON – The issue of illegal rentals is often brought up at Township Council meetings and that issue recently got explored with a roundtable conversation between Jackson officials and residents – both of whom want to see some action taken to correct the problem.
It was noted that the township currently has around 1,975 known homes that are being rented out. The goal of the roundtable was to hash out what laws governing these rentals currently exist and to gather some new ideas on how best to regulate the situation.
Among those present with elected officials were Jackson professional staff including Business Administrator Charles Terefenko, Code Enforcement Supervisor Andrew Cheney, Code Enforcement staff member Denise Neri, Township Attorney Gregory McGuckin, Mayor Jennifer Kuhn and members of the council.
Residents participated in person and also remotely, providing comments, asking questions, and gaining a better understanding of how existing housing and property maintenance ordinances are enforced.
They discussed enforcement challenges, the importance of community feedback, accountability, and formulating fair, effective, and legally sound policies that would protect neighborhoods and community members.
The mayor said, “I am a strong proponent of community dialogue and the sharing of best practices and ideas. Having more residents involved and bringing fresh perspectives to the table is exactly what we need. I would like to see – and participate in – more conversations like this. I also want to thank the professionals and Council members who were in attendance.”
“This was a great start, and I am prepared to hit the ground running, working closely with our legal team to address concerns in a safe and lawful manner so Jackson continues to be a great place to live and raise a family,” she added.
Council President Mordechai Burnstein remarked “What current tools does code enforcement have? What don’t they have,” Burnstein opened saying. “‘Is anyone holding code enforcement from doing their jobs?’ is what we commonly hear as elected officials. What more can we do to tackle some of the issues in town? Where are the loopholes and equally important what are the concerns residents have?”
“There are areas not currently addressed with some of the legislation,” he added. “Could we address them legally? That is why we have our attorney here.”
Once residents started speaking with some of the code enforcement department representatives it was learned that some of the things they thought were illegal are actually legal.
The council president noted that “Jackson Township will continue to be a community where families can raise their children, residents can feel proud of where they live, and quality of life remains a top priority.”
He emphasized the importance of citizen input and professional collaboration. “I want to sincerely thank all of the residents who took the time to attend the rental housing roundtable, as well as those who participated by watching from home.”
Council Vice President Giuseppe Palmeri stressed the importance of transparency as well as resident engagement in preparing township policy.
“This roundtable reflects the Township’s commitment to transparency and open communication with residents. Hearing directly from the community helps guide thoughtful, enforceable policies that protect neighborhoods and preserve the quality of life that makes Jackson Township a desirable place to live,” Palmeri added.
Palmeri asked about children temporarily residing in a house being eligible to attend school in the township school district.
McGuckin said “My understanding is that if you are residing in the town – whether temporary or not – you have the right to go to the local schools.”
He added though that when a child is enrolled in the school they must establish and certify that they are residents.
An example was given of a situation of 14 children being registered under one address.
Kuhn asked “if you sign up your child for school whether it is in the beginning, middle or end of the year and you are a renter don’t you have to supply your lease showing your address if you are a new resident?”
She was told no.
“Then I think we should talk to the Board of Ed,” the mayor responded.
Burnstein remarked it might be a state law.
“How do we tighten that up?” Palmeri asked. “How can a town, legally, have this reported? How do we say legally if you are going to have house guests there and stay for more than 30 days, you need to register them?”
Burnstein said “this might not even be a case of rentals; it’s just if I want to have houseguests for six months.”
A resident pointed out that they couldn’t even bring garbage to the dump without showing their residency.
The governing body will be continuing to engage residents of Jackson as it examines rental housing policies and code enforcement strategies, with additional dialogue and initiatives expected during the course of the year.
“These conversations are essential as we continue working with residents to strengthen quality-of-life ordinances and ensure they are effective, fair, and enforceable,” Burnstein said.
