Summary of the October 30th, 2007
Appeal Decision


Summary of the Appeal Decision
elevator roof fire alarm 5% interest
before NOT allowed NOT allowed allowed allowed
after allowed NOT allowed allowed NOT allowed
cost $284,522.00 $71,372.00 $42,039.60 TBD

On Tuesday 30-Oct-2007 from 10-11AM, Judge Walter R. Barisonek heard Chilton Towers’ appeal to the February 21st, 2007 rulings of the City of Elizabeth’s Fair Rental Housing Board regarding the application for Capital Improvements.
Judge Walter R. Barisonek overrode the board’s decision for 2 items: (click here for more information about the Barisonek decision)

archive of previous news


meeting announcement

The landlord appeals in court on Oct 30th, 2007

On Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 at 10:00 AM at the Union County Courthouse (the tall tower building: Broad Street & Rahway Avenue) in the large courtroom (first floor), Judge Walter R. Barisonek will hear the landlord’s appeal of the City of Elizabeth’s Fair Rental Housing Board of February 21st, 2007 where most of the landlord’s application was DENIED (see "VICTORY!" below).

THE HEARING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

PLEASE attend this hearing to show your support
and to see for yourself how the Elizabeth Tenants have rights only when we enforce them.


If you have not yet contributed the full $50 to the Tenants’ Association

The Chilton Towers Tenants Association has spent enormous time, effort and money on your behalf to fight the rent increase.
The chart below makes it very clear how the $50 for the legal defense fund will be paid back in as little as 3-6 months of reduced rent!
What investment can guarantee such a return?
Or think of it as an "extended warranty" on your lease :-)

We are in a strong position: we’re defending the Fair Rental Housing Board’s favorable ruling.
The CTTA achieved this victory thanks to the neighbors who voluntarily contributed to the CTTA Legal Defense Fund.
Please join the neighbors who made this possible with your $50.00 contribution
Please have checks payable to the Chilton Towers Tenants Association
and place the envelope under the door of either
14G (Steven Shaffer, CTTA president) or
1L (Edward Bontempo, CTTA Vice President).
$50.00 ONCE will save you $100 to $200 a YEAR by defending the favorable ruling we just won.

Thank you.
Summary of the February 21st, 2007
Elizabeth Fair Rental Housing board meeting

VICTORY! 36 cents, not $3.39!

On Wednesday February 21st, 2007, the City of Elizabeth’s Fair Rental Housing Board ruled that the elevator and roof repairs are NOT capital improvements, but due to NJ State Law, the fire alarm system work qualified as a capital improvement.
The board approved repayment of the fire alarm as a capital improvement over a period of 20 years at 5% interest, resulting in a capital improvement surcharge of 36 cents per room per month. That’s a CLEAR WIN from the $3.39 originally requested!

Many thanks to:

What Happens Next?

The landlord will appeal the decision in court.
We need to continue to retain our attorney James Tarella to defend our position there as well.
The Tenants’ Association will continue to raise the funds required to continue the court defense.

The Numbers

The original filing requested a rent surcharge of $3.39 per room per month for 20 years.
The City of Elizabeth’s Fair Rental Housing Board granted only 36 cents!
Look at the money we just saved!
apartment rooms per month per year
D K 3 original request $10.17
increase granted: $1.08
YOU SAVE: $9.09
$127.04
$12.96
$109.08
A C H J 3 ½ original request $11.87
increase granted: $1.26
YOU SAVE: $10.61
$142.56
$15.12
$127.26
B F I M P 4 original request $13.56
increase granted: $1.44
YOU SAVE: $12.12
$162.72
$17.28
$145.44
G N 4 ½ original request $15.26
increase granted: $1.62
YOU SAVE: $13.64
$183.06
$19.44
$163.62
E L 5 ½ original request $18.65
increase granted: $1.98
YOU SAVE: $16.67
$223.72
$23.76
$199.98

If you have not yet contributed to the Tenants’ Association

Look at the money you are going to save every year because of what was done for you.
The Chilton Towers Tenants Association has spent enormous time, effort and money on your behalf to fight the rent increase.
The CTTA achieved this victory thanks to the neighbors who voluntarily contributed to the CTTA Legal Defense Fund.
Please join the neighbors who made this possible with your $50.00 contribution when the CTTA officer or floor captain visits you in person, or in the envelope we provided.
Please have checks payable to the Chilton Towers Tenants Association
$50.00 ONCE will save you $100 to $200 a YEAR by defending the favorable ruling we just won.
Thank you.
Summary of the January 17th, 2007
Elizabeth Fair Rental Housing board meeting

There were not enough board members for a quorum, so the hearing was rescheduled to Wednesday February 21st, 2007.

Summary of the December 20th, 2006
Elizabeth Fair Rental Housing board meeting

At the December 20th, 2006 Elizabeth Fair Rental Housing Board hearing, the managers of the Chilton Towers presented their reasons for increasing our monthly rent. Using the Capital Improvement portion of the Elizabeth Fair Housing Ordinance, they argued that the repair and maintenance of the roof, elevators and the replacement of the fire alarm systems are capital improvements. Experts explained the work performed.

Our attorney James Tarella exposed inconsistencies and weaknesses in the landlord’s claims during cross-examination of the witnesses. He will present our counter arguments at the next board meeting.


DETAILS of Elizabeth Rent Control Laws and the landlord’s filing

Elizabeth's rent control law limits the yearly rent increase to 3% for a maximum of $20 per month.

On 20-February-2006, Chilton Towers LLC filed for a capital improvement
in addition to the one we are already paying for the windows!
Chilton Towers LLC seeks reimbursement for the following expenses:
Here is a scan of the filing Page 1 Page 2
To summarize pages 3-6: it lists each apartment, number of rooms and monthly surcharge sought from each Chilton Towers resident for a total of 774 rentable rooms (not counting the rental office and 2 employee apartments) and $2,626.19 in monthly surcharges.

The Elizabeth rent control law has a Capital Improvement provision for new services. Chilton Towers' landlord believes its roof, elevator and fire alarm work is a capital improvement. CTTA believes the work is not a capital improvement but ordinary repair items.


Minutes from the 5-Dec-2006 building-wide meeting
of the CTTA (Chilton Towers Tenants’ Association)

On Tuesday December 5th, a building wide meeting was held in the lobby. Steven Shaffer, the CTTA president, summarized the CTTA history: it was formed in the 1980s. 5 times before, we have successfully responded to the landlord’s applications for Hardship and Capital Improvement rent increases. The lowered rent we currently enjoy was thanks to the high number of tenants who donated up to $100 to defend our cause in the 1980s. The CTTA continues to exist because filing for rent increases is just a business practice for the landlord, but only thru volunteerism can the tenants defend our rights as stipulated by the Elizabeth Rent Control Ordinances.

Our lawyer James Tarella very clearly and optimistically explained our position and the arguments that he will make before the Rent Control Board. He highly encourages as many of us to attend the rent control board hearing for this will surely influence their decision!