Following a lengthy discussion Monday about a recent uptick in police activity in the neighborhood, the Select Board approved a three-month lodging house license renewal for a property on Common Street.
The licenses are typically for one year.
Based on Massachusetts General Law, a lodging house license is required for properties where four or more unrelated persons are living together. According to town officials, only one such establishment operates in Belmont.
The approval, however, is contingent on the owners paying off the $22,000 owed in taxes, resolving tenant screening issues, and demonstrating material improvements in the property’s condition. The Select Board will review the progress.
“The police presence in that neighborhood is unbelievable,” said Lois Pollock, who noted the property was never an issue until recent months. “It is certainly sucking up a lot of our police time. It is unnerving to live there and see what happens. I hope this isn’t one of those situations where … nothing is done until something horrible happens to someone living in that neighborhood.”
Relaying data from the police department, Select Board Chair Matt Taylor said there have been 16 different days since August when police were called to the property. Though residents shared experiences seeing needles and other evidence of drug use, Interim Police Chief Mark Hurley said no overt drug activity – such as hand-offs — had been witnessed by his officers.
According to officials, the uptick in emails from residents and calls to police seemed to coincide with a change in management over the summer.
Steven Klassner of City Lights Property Management said his company took over management of the property in August, at which point there were substantial renovations and a turnover of clients following an influx of referrals. Klassner explained he works with government agencies to provide housing to individuals with Section 8 housing vouchers.
“We have cameras throughout the property…I’ve been there the past five days this week, just checking people in, moving people out,” he said.
The properties he works with, including the Belmont property, provide housing to lower-income residents, disabled individuals, and veterans.
“It does serve the community in that way, because it is alternative, lower-income housing for people who need lower-income options,” he said. “I have not received any calls or questions about it. Any issues or disturbances with tenants, I have not been made aware of.”
There was some confusion Monday night over reports that a registered sex offender was living at the address. Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) checks are required as part of the voucher screening process, he said, and told the Select Board the person in question does not live at the address.
Klassner emphasized that his number is available at the property to anyone who has concerns they wish to discuss.
“This has been a tricky process for us, so I feel like we’ve reached a reasonable conclusion,” said Select Board Member Elizabeth Dionne.
