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Bromley council begins review of short-term rental rules, schedules flood cleanup support and previews community events
Summary
Councilmembers discussed an Airbnb listing, zoning Article 405 and possible transient fees; Attorney Matt Woods agreed to research options. The council also planned hydrant testing, dumpsters for flood-damaged items and set a July 26 block party date.
The Bromley City Council spent part of its April 9 meeting discussing short-term rental oversight after PDS representative Andy Clift reported an Airbnb listing in town and said the district rep Wyatt is no longer available. Clift noted the town's adopted zoning Article 405 "specifies short term rental stays" but does not explicitly prohibit them, and he is awaiting an active-cases spreadsheet for follow-up.
"I personally think there is a larger risk with rental units than AIRBNB," Attorney Matt Woods said, adding that short-term BNB operations involve selling a stay and therefore may pose different enforcement and regulatory considerations. The mayor asked Woods to research options for licensing or a transient-fee mechanism and to report back; the council agreed.
Councilmember Dave Radford urged a licensing requirement, saying, "If it is listed as an AIRBNB, it should have a rental license fee attached as a requirement." No ordinance change was adopted at the meeting; council directed staff and the attorney to develop options.
The meeting also covered several operational and community items tied to recent flooding. Fire Chief Mike Steward reported the yearly EMS inspection passed and all certifications are current, and he said hydrant testing will begin around May 5. The mayor said two dumpsters will be placed for residents to dispose of flood-damaged items and staff called for continued barricades until the county completes assessments. Road crews will pursue a work-order to increase streetlight brightness at Rohman and Boone streets, and the council discussed using poles along Route 8 for veteran banners.
Administrative and community events were also noted: a block party is set for July 26 from 3 to 10 p.m.; the state informed the city it was not selected for a boat-ramp project and Councilmember Andy Clift will follow up to learn why; and a state bill under consideration could change audit frequency for towns under 1,000 residents to every two years. The council accepted committee reports and adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
