Athens panel reports 210 tenant responses in rental‑inspection survey; appoints Rick Wasserman to RIPS subcommittee

The Athens Affordable Housing Commission on Tuesday said its Rental Inspection Process (RIPS) outreach has generated 210 tenant responses and 127 landlord responses so far, and the commission voted to add Rick Wasserman to the RIPS subcommittee.

RIPS lead (name not provided in the transcript) told commissioners the committee has distributed press releases, posted flyers and that the survey will remain open through May 31. "As of this morning, we have 210 tenants who have responded. We have 127 landlords," the speaker said, describing the response as "pretty good." The team has posted collected code‑office data and interview materials in a public folder under the commission’s website for review.

The commission also addressed a change in representation after landlord representative Bob Pribb said the work exceeded his availability and offered to remain an occasional advisor. "Rick Wasserman wants to take his place," the RIPS lead said; commissioners approved Wasserman’s appointment by voice vote. The motion to appoint Wasserman to replace Pribb passed without recorded opposition.

RIPS members described several next steps: analyzing survey responses, meeting with the new code office director, and reviewing best practices and legal constraints. The transcript records that Jim Kaufman, Ohio University’s director of real estate, will meet with RIPS staff and that Tom Pile — described in the meeting as the new code director and a former police chief returning from retirement — will be briefed on the program. The RIPS lead said the group is working with attorneys for landlords and tenants to vet survey design and legal considerations.

Commissioners discussed operational limits and funding. Participants noted that some permitting and inspection authority for larger projects rests with state or county offices and that Athens lacks local building‑inspection capacity for some projects. The RIPS lead said the group is studying code‑office expenditures and possible fee formulas tied to rental stock to assess staffing needs and affordability.

The commission emphasized collaboration with the code office and university, and the RIPS lead said the effort is not intended as a punitive "witch hunt" but as a systems review to improve rental conditions and to identify financially and legally viable options for inspections and incentives.

The commission asked members to help promote the survey; the RIPS lead said outreach has included student newsletters and campus groups, and volunteers will support in‑person tabling at spring events.

Next steps: the RIPS subcommittee will continue survey analysis, meet with code‑office leadership and Ohio University staff, and prepare recommendations to bring back to the Affordable Housing Commission.