Committee backs rent‑setting update for seven regulated units at Captain Glad Cliff

The Yarmouth Community Housing Committee voted June 8 to recommend that the select board approve updated maximum rents for seven deed‑restricted units at the former Captain Glad Cliff property, with conditions intended to prevent displacement.

Paul Tardiff, speaking for owner/manager Ron Bourgeois and identifying the property’s regulatory agreement, said the rents were last adjusted in 2023 and that the agreement’s formula — which dates to the 2011 restriction — guides allowable increases. Tardiff described the unit mix as two one‑bedrooms, two studios and three two‑bedrooms and said the owner followed the regulatory formula included in the committee packet.

Committee members pressed for tenant protections during the discussion. A member noted that one unit currently has no rental voucher and is very small (about 252 square feet); the committee agreed that any rent charged to a continuing tenant must be limited to 40% of that tenant’s disclosed monthly income. Members also required that any increase for households with rental vouchers be approved by the voucher administrator before a new rent is charged.

The committee discussed monitoring and compliance. Members said the property has a monitoring agent who reviews leases and confirms compliance with the regulatory agreement. Committee members asked that the monitoring agent, and the relevant voucher administrators, be copied on the approvals so administrators can confirm voucher payments and allowable rents.

After discussion a member moved to recommend the rent changes to the select board “with the stipulations that Josh had stated” (that rents for current tenants be capped at 40% of disclosed monthly income and that voucher administrator approval be required for voucher holders). The motion passed on a roll call vote: Drew, Tom, Greg, Myra, Lee and John voted in favor; Josh abstained. The committee will forward its recommendation to the select board for final action.

The committee emphasized these figures represent the maximum allowable rents under the regulatory agreement, not necessarily the rents that currently will be billed to each tenant; current tenants would be limited by the 40%‑of‑income cap and voucher administrator approvals where applicable. The committee also noted concerns about statewide proposals on rent limits and the broader cost pressures landlords face (insurance, utilities, taxes), which the owner cited during remarks.

Next steps: the committee will send its recommendation and supporting calculations to the select board; the select board will consider the request and could place it on the consent agenda or call it up for discussion.