Heat. Heat. Oh. Oh, yeah. Thank you, sir. >> Yeah. Yeah. I just want to see when he went up. Okay. Good evening. Uh, welcome all. Um, having properly been advertised in accordance with the
sunsigned laws of the state of New Jersey, uh, this, oh my goodness, I don't even know what today's date is. The 16th, >> April 16th, 2026. This meeting of the Jersey City Rentle Leveling Board is called to order at 6:15 p.m. And may we have a roll
call, please? >> Yes. Um, as I uh call your name, please respond by saying here or present. Alexander Hamilton here. >> Tiffany McCory, no. James Eco
>> here. >> Toita, how do I pronounce your last name? I don't mess it up. >> Elazoo. >> Elazoo. Toita Elazoo >> here. >> Sullivan Johnson >> here. >> Sandre Robinson Green >> here.
Michael T. Brown. He's not here. We We do have five people here, so we do have a quorum. >> Thank you, director. Um, well, first of all, I want to thank everybody for being in attendance tonight. Everyone will have an opportunity to speak. Um, so
when you are speaking, please speak clearly and when recognized by the chair to speak, address the board, not your adversary. Keep a presentation to the issues at hand. and the board will listen to all sides of your complaint or application and come to a decision. All
parties will receive a written decision and then you will have 45 days in which to appeal the decision to the superior court. So if you do not like the decision that's rendered tonight, please feel be to be civil about it and appeal it when
you received u the decision in writing. So I count on your cooper your cooperation tonight. Thank you. Um, have there been any cancellations or postponements? >> Yes, there have been three
uh postponements uh that were originally on tonight's agenda. And that was uh 2011 St. Paul's. That was a hardship. Actually, it's two under 2011 St. Paul's. Two different uh and then there was, let me see.
Oh, I'm sorry. There it is. 10 Heron Avenue. I'm sorry. 2011 St. Pauls in 222 First Street. All three of these cases have been adjourned. >> Okay. Thank you, director. All right. Well, we shall call the first case then. The first >> actually on tonight's agenda, our first
matter of is is actually going to be appointing a new chair. >> Okay. >> Appoint all the people first. We got to swear them in. Okay. So, we have Yeah, we do have one two people that have to be sworn in tonight. Okay. So, I'm going to
All right, Sandra, can you please can you raise your right hand? >> Okay. And repeat after me. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Okay. I, Sandra Robinson Green, >> I, Sandre Robinson Green, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear
>> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Const Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> that I will hear true faith and allegiance >> that I will hear true faith and
allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the government established in the United States >> and and to the government establish established in the United States >> and in this state >> and and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people
>> and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> impartially >> and impartially >> and justly perform >> and justly perform >> all the duties of a commissioner >> all the duties of a commissioner >> on the rentle leveling board >> on the rentleveling board
>> of the city of Jersey City >> of the city of Jersey City >> according to the best of my ability >> according cutting to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Yes, he does. >> Alexander Hamilton.
>> Can you please raise your right hand and repeat after me? I, Alexander Hamilton, >> I, Alexander Hamilton, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey. and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> that I will hear true faith and allegiance >> that I will hear true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the government established in the United States >> and to the government established in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state
>> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> and partially >> partially >> and justly perform >> and justly perform >> all the duties of a commissioner >> all the duties of a commissioner >> on the the rent leveling board >> on the rent leveling board
>> of the city of Jersey City >> of the city of Jersey City. >> According to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. We thank you guys for the for first the reappointment the new appointments. We want to welcome you
guys to the rent leveling board. >> All right. Okay. So, our first agenda is we're we're making a motion from one of the members to vote for a new chairperson of the rent leveling board. So, we need a mot we need a motion from
one of the members uh to vote for a new and to vote and nominate person to operate as a new chairperson of the rent leveling board. I, James Ecock, uh, nominate Sullivan Johnson, make a motion
to elect Sullivan Johnson as chairperson for the rent leveling board. >> I, Sandre Robinson Green, second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. So, we're going to vote. And so, we're This is on the motion. Let me just write this
in for Sullivan C. Johnson to be the chairperson of the rent leveling board. And we're going to vote now. Alexander Hamilton, >> yes. >> Uh, Michael Brown's not here. Dana's not here. James Eco,
>> yes. >> Sandre Robinson Green, >> yes. >> Toita, and I'm sorry, I'm going to get your last name correct. So, could you please give me your last name one more time? I'll get it right. >> Elazoo. >> Elazoo. Beautiful last name. Toita Elazoo.
>> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. I think so. Okay. So, we have four yes, zero nos. And so, the motion passes 4 to zero. Congratulations, Sullivan C. Johnson. You have been voted the new
chair for the rent leveling board. Okay. Okay. So, at this time, we're going to ask for a motion from one of the committee members to vote for a vice chair of the rent leveling board. >> Need a motion.
>> Unfortunately, the chair can't make >> I can't, but I can hear it. Uh, do I hear a motion >> in terms of being able to make a recommendation or suggestion for vice chair? >> I'm going to cheat right now. >> Motion to nominate James Ecock as the
vice chair of the rent leveling board. >> Do I have a second? >> I, Sandre Robinson, Green second. >> Okay, we have a second. So, we're going to vote on the nomination of James Eco as the vice chair of the Brent Leveling Board. Alexander Hamilton,
>> yes. >> Sandre Robinson Green, >> yes. >> Sullivan C. Johnson, >> yes. >> Toita, why can't I get your last name right? >> Ellisoo. >> Oh, >> yes. >> Okay. >> Did I say it right? >> Yes, >> you did.
>> Oh, okay. Go ahead. Go ahead, director. Go ahead, director. Okay. Motion passes. Uh, four. Yes. No. Uh, no. Zeros. Anyway, I'm sorry. For the for the Why can't I get my words right? >> Four.
>> Four yeses. No zeros. The motion passes. Congratulations, James E. Cog. You are now the vice president of the rent leveling board. Okay. Okay. Now we can go with the first case. This first case is property 227-229
Cambridge Avenue. >> Okay. Give >> Yeah, >> those are the landlords. >> You have the landlords. If you can please step up >> to the podium. >> And this is case number CI 20250026. >> Can you um state your name?
Vasquez. >> Okay. And you, sir? >> Fish. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Please raise your right hand. >> You swear the testimony about to give this proceeding is the truth. Truth. >> We do. >> Yes, I do.
>> I do. >> All right. Thank you for uh for coming down tonight. Now, if you could you kind of please um kind of share your your concern or what it is that has brought you here tonight or plead your case.
>> Uh we are here because uh we did some improvements on the building. >> Mhm. >> The roof and uh we redo four apartments. >> No. Yes. We Okay. Can let me we uh we did
the roof new roof and we uh we just coming here to uh I don't know what it is what we got to do anyway. >> Okay. Well, we have had an opportunity to to read the recommendation that came back from the rent leveling bureau. Uh
so I think we all the commissioners have an opportunity to actually review the case. We just wanted to see if there were any particular concerns. >> I'm sorry. I I I'm not here really too good. Um, >> okay. >> Yeah, >> we have had an opportunity to actually review your case based upon the
recommendations that had come back from the rent leving bureau. >> Okay. >> Um, so we have, I think, a pretty decent understanding of what the case is all about. We just didn't see if there was anything else. You always have an opportunity to speak. If there are any other concerns that you had or if anything else that you wish to share. Um
if there is not then we can >> everything you know we should wait to get the uh whatever we got to do you know get the okay or whatever >> for the uh approve the uh >> the rent increase >> the rent increase for the tenants for the roof. >> Okay commissioners are there any
questions >> that you have up the landlords? Um if not then um do uh well you know I absolutely am. We're gonna see if there's any tenants there. >> One question. >> Sure. >> Um so you did the roof and you renovated four apartments you said. >> No no no we did we did uh the whole
roof. >> Did the whole roof? >> The whole roof. >> Okay. But nothing inside the apartments. I thought I heard you say that before. >> We did the four apartments but that was being t Oh, I'm sorry. That's being taken already. That's being set up already. >> Okay. >> Maybe about eight months ago.
>> Okay. Just because I heard you say that when you walked up and I was confused being taken already everything be approved. Now we was waiting for the roof you know I don't know really what was going on but finally you know we have one time in a video call or whatever and uh I think it was postponed
things like that. So now we just get another cancel one time and now we just get called to coming back here again. Okay. and we was waiting just to uh see if we can get the approve to increase the uh the tenants for the uh new roof.
>> Okay, >> we already got the numbers because my daughter called to the see how much a percentage we had to split between the apartments according to the square feet and everything being set up already. Now we just waited to uh get best the
increase for the tennis it actually I do have a question Mr. Last question. Um, about how long have you owned the property? >> How how long? >> Yeah. How long have >> I bought it? Oh my god. >> I think may No, I think before that. >> Okay. >> In the 80s, 80s something.
>> Long time ago. >> I been on that propert long long long time ago. >> And personally, I just would also just commend you because I've had an opportunity to see quite a few cases. And it's good to see landlords document cases well. And in this instance, I do
believe that you did um provide the things that are necessary to the rent leveling bureau. And so I thank you for your due diligence in that regard. >> Thank you. >> All right. I if there aren't any other questions, um I'm certainly we give the
>> we have to wait for the for the notice. >> No, I don't still don't understand that. What else we got to do right now? >> Really? Absolutely nothing to be honest with you. that what we're going to do is make a decision tonight as to whether or not the rate increase that was submitted.
>> Okay. >> Um >> we just we just wait uh it's going to be notify email or letter, right? So when we be able to get the increase or what >> you would be notified by the rent leveling bureau of the decision that's rented tonight and and and if you have
any concerns or if you wish to appeal it or anything of that nature, you certainly will have that right as well. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you so much. >> That's it. Right. ready to go. >> Well, if you can certainly stay till the hearing's over. >> Thank you for everything. Okay. >> All right. >> You don't have to leave. You don't have to leave. If you want to stick around,
you can stick around. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Do we have any >> Well, actually, I'm just going to give if there's a tenant. I didn't know if there was a tenant, >> right? Is there a tenant
present for this particular case? >> No. Nobody here. >> Okay. >> Correct. >> If not, >> would you like to hear from the from the hearing officer? >> Absolut. Oh, sure. Absolutely. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Hi. >> Yep.
>> The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. >> I do. Um if I can just for the benefit of the two new board members just go over the process really quickly of uh what we do and how we got here for them. >> Um so once a landlord um submits an
application to our office, we schedule an inspection of the work and to verify that the work was done, it was done properly and to evaluate the the amount of money they spent. We also inspect their entire building. So, if there are any violations in the building, they're
required to correct those in order for that application to move forward. Part of the ordinance says that the building has to be in substantial compliance, which means that it's got to be in compliance with all the regulations of Jersey City. Um, if we find in uh anything wrong, we actually issue them
violations. They then have 30 to 90 days uh 30, I'm sorry, 30 days to six months to correct those violations. Most landlords correct them as soon as possible because they want to move the process forward so that they can get the rent increase. Um once those have been
corrected, we schedule a hearing. Uh the hearing is basically for the tenants to come and voice any concerns um anything that they want to put on the record. Uh the tenants are notified to e to put something in writing and then they're also notified the date and the time and
place of the hearing. Um, in this particular instance, no tenants responded either by email or regular mail and no tenants applied uh came to the hearing. So when you get if you look through the report, there's literally like three sentences that the owner
showed up, I was there and uh we waited a half hour and at that time the meeting was called because uh no one showed up. Um once the hearing has taken place then I make a recommendation which then comes
to the board and that's where we are tonight. Um these the capital improvements are usually pretty straightforward. Um, you know, it's major things like roofs, uh, furnaces, uh, new windows, siding, things like
that that are, you know, uh, contribute to, uh, the overall, um, length of the entire property. Um, it is, uh, depreciated over 10 years. And so that's, uh, whatever the dollar amount, in this
case, I think like $26,000 was divided by 120 months. And then that's divided either by the number of units or the number of rooms. If all the apartments are the exact same size, it gets divided by the number of units. If they're not, then it gets divided by the number of
rooms. And that's where we arrive at the dollar amount per month, in this case, per room, per apartment. Um, again, the this one was pretty simple one. Um, it was a roof. It was very it was well
done. It was reasonably priced. Uh, for the size of the building, it's actually very affordable. The roof, I've seen them go as high as like 50,000 for the same size roof. Um, the work was done well. Um, this particular landlord, uh,
Hamilton, uh, I'm sorry, Alexander, you had mentioned they did do four previous VCIs. That's what he was referring to. >> Okay. >> Um, so that's, uh, they did renovate four apartments last year. Um, I think that's it on my end. If you have
any specific questions about the work or anything like that, >> just one question. It's four apartments. >> Are they all the same size? >> No. No. Um, no. This unit has eight apartments in total. Um, they all are
except for one. So, the increases obviously um I think it was just one was one was a one-bedroom apartment. I think there I think the rest were the same size. with four vacant apartments, four occupied apartments. >> No, this this is for all eight
apartments. Last year, because the owner had mentioned it, he as apartments became vacant, he applied for a vacancy capital improvement, which doesn't come before the board. >> That's handled by our office. The only time it comes before the board is if the
landlord objected basically to our objection uh to our recommendation. Mhm. >> So those are handled internally again unless somebody objects to our findings. >> Mhm. >> But in general you consider the building to be well upkeep and >> Oh yes. Yeah. No. Yes. Definitely
wellmaintained. It's the landlord that and you know what that's evidenced by nobody coming to complain. >> Um at the hearing if the landlord isn't a good landlord we have people show up >> and they would also show up here too tonight just to vote their concerns.
I have a question about the depreciation period. What made like what determined the selection of five or 10 years? >> Um, basically five years is minor and 10 years is is major and it's anything that's supposed to have a a lifespan of
of 10 years. So, a roof clearly a furnace siding. Um, we tend not to grant fiveyear ones >> just because um, you know, uh, you know, if you replaced uh toilets or
something, that wouldn't be a minor capital improvement. It's, you know, that would fall into maybe it's going to get five years, but we don't classify it as a minor capital improvement. Most of them we depreciate over the 10 years. There's I can't even think of one that we've done for five. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Okay. >> Inspector Colleen over here. >> Oh, >> hi. >> I'm sorry. >> Just for the record, can you please go over your calculations? um specifically so it's in the record. Thank you. >> Okay. Yep.
Okay, so the roof cost them $26,000. Um, you take that amount, you divide it by 120 months, and then because this apartment building, all the apartments weren't the same size, we took the number of rooms
um and divided that into the amount uh that we had previously had, and that came out to $8.33 per room, an increase. So, for the one room apartments, it was 833, which I believe there's just one. Uh for the two
room apartments it was $16.66. For three room apartments it was $24.99 and for four room apartments it was 3332. So if you look through your package that's the official increase. I think when the landlord calculated he just
rounded off. So you'll see in his it's it's uh 25 >> it's 16 it's eight. We go by our calculation because we don't we don't round off. We just figure out the actual amount. So when he's notified, his numbers that he requested are going to
be slightly different than what we're saying you can raise the rent by. In some cases, he rounded down, in some cases he rounded up. >> But for just so I'm clear, for the record, we're looking at $33.33 per room.
>> No, eight $8.33 per room. >> Oh, okay. >> Okay. >> Per room. Okay. >> So depending on if it's a one room apartment, it's only$833. If it's a two room, it's 1666. Again, three room, it's $24.99. >> Okay. >> You know, again, if if all these were
the exact same size, it would have just been a per apartment increase, >> you know, and they all would have been the same. >> All right. Any other questions, commissioners? >> No. >> I have a question about the summons, but
I'm not sure if that's towards you. >> Sure. >> Um, I guess what I just wasn't sure how was that addressed and like why was that issued? Um, so it uh the landlord had issued the rent increase prior to the board making the
determination. Um, once we sent them a notice that they couldn't do that, they refunded all the money to the tenants. And I just in defense of the landlord, I can understand why. With the vacancy capital improvements, >> once you submit the application, you're
allowed to raise the rent. With those, you just run the risk if our determination is different than what you applied for. You then have to refund it >> to the um the the tenant because it wouldn't be fair for the landlord to have a v an apartment sitting vacant 5
months, 6 months for us to make a determination. They'd be losing literally thousands of dollars. So, they understand they do Whoops. They run that risk. Again, if they put in for, you know, um $100 increase and we only found 75, then they'd be required to refund
the $25 difference to the tenant. >> Um so I think they misunder the one application allows you to do that. The other one doesn't. As soon as we notified them, they did refund the money to all the tenants. >> Okay. All right. Thank you very much. >> Okay.
>> So, is there any un readiness? If not, can I hear a motion? I make a motion. Uh I make a motion that we accept the housing offic's report and
recommendation for the major capital improvement of 26,000 accepted to be depreciated over 10 years and allocated to each apartment based on the number of rooms in the apartment as set forth on the attached schedule. Uh
this complies with >> Mr. President, I'm sorry. Can we make a We have to make a motion first to close the public speaking before we go there. >> Okay. >> Um, may we have a motion made? >> Motion to close public speaking. >> Can be seconded.
>> Second. >> All right. Motion has been moved and second. You can move forward. >> Okay. >> Okay. All right. >> Try to mention this. I make a motion to accept the housing
offic's report hearing offic's report and recommendation uh for the major capital improvement of 26,000 to be depreciated over 10 years and allocated to each apartment based on the number of rooms in the apartment as
set forth on the schedule. Uh this is in compliance with rent control ordinance section 2260 5e2 which says depreciation cannot exceed 10 years and it's also in compliance with
rent control ordinance section 265e4 which considers a completely new roof as a capital improvement. I second that motion. >> Okay. >> Okay. We have a motion uh that's been
second to affirm the rent leveling bureau's recommendation for this capital improvement. Uh we're going to put it to vote. Alexander Hamilton, >> I vote yes. And I vote yes because I think we have responsible landlords here
that are taking care of their tenants that are not getting complaints from their tenants as seen by no one showing up tonight or at any previous hearings before and trusting that the city did the right thing about the number. Um I think that excellent work has been done
here and that is why I am voting yes. >> Right. James Eco. >> Yes. >> Seren Johnson. >> Yes. Toita Elizu, >> yes. >> Elazu, I'm sorry. Sandre Robinson Green,
>> yes. >> Okay, the most carries with five yeses, zero nos. Uh, motion carries. It has been affirmed. >> Okay, very good. Well, >> given that I think at this point then I
we've taken care of the business at hand. I am looking to see if someone is prepared to make a motion that we adjourn. Motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> Okay. >> All right. Motion is adjourned and second. Good night. Thank you guys for
such a wonderful meeting and thank you for the new people. Uh I look forward to working with you. Wonderful questions. Thank you for the new appointees. I think we're going to do great work together for our city. Thank you all and good night. >> Thank you. >> You know the final part. Hey Tom. Yeah, I'm
always looking good.