Berlin council holds first reading to shrink housing board of review to three-member panel

At the March 23 meeting the Berlin Mayor and Council held a first reading of Ordinance 2026-01 to amend Chapter 6, §127 of the town code to change how housing appeals are heard.

Town Attorney David Gaskell explained the proposed change would replace a rarely meeting five-member citizen housing board with a three-person panel made up of the chairpersons of the Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Historic District Commission. "Those respective positions run meetings frequently. They would understand process, and they could focus more time on hearing whatever appeal is before them," Gaskell said. He also pointed out a drafting error in paragraph two that staff will correct: the variance approval language will be revised to require the concurrence of two members (a quorum) rather than an incorrect higher threshold.

Council members asked how housing inspection duties are handled under the code. Staff clarified that housing inspection authority resides with the planning director and the code-enforcement officer (who are certified housing inspectors on the town payroll) and that the proposal does not create a separate housing-inspector position.

Because this was a first reading, no final action was taken. The town attorney said the paragraph-2 correction will be made before the ordinance returns for additional consideration. Supporters argued the change will make the appeals process more expedient; some council members pressed for clarity about who would hear appeals and how variances would be approved.

Next steps: staff will correct the paragraph wording and bring the ordinance back for a subsequent reading and vote.