There is hereby created a Rent Control Board
within the Township of Freehold.
The Board shall consist of five regular members
and two alternate members. The alternate Board members shall serve
in the absence of any regular Board member. Both the regular Board
members and the alternate members shall be appointed for three-year
terms by the Township Committee. Each member shall serve without compensation.
No member of the Board shall be a residential landlord or tenant within
the Township, nor shall any Board member be an elected official, a
nominated candidate for any public office, or a municipal employee
of the Township.
The Rent Control Board is hereby granted and
shall have, in addition to the other powers granted herein, the power
to do any and all acts necessary to carry out and execute the purposes
of this chapter, including but not limited to the following:
A. To issue and promulgate such rules, regulations, and
amendments thereto as it deems necessary to implement the purposes
of this chapter. Such rules, regulations, and any amendments shall
be forwarded to the Township Committee for its review. If, after 30
days of such forwarding, the Township Committee does not notify the
Rent Control Board as to any objection to any of the proposed rules,
regulations, or amendments, they shall become effective and shall
have the force of law, until revised, repealed, or amended, provided
that the rules, regulations, and amendments, are filed with the Township
Clerk.
B. To supply information and assistance to the landlords
and tenants concerning compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
C. To hold hearings and adjudicate applications from
landlords for additional rent.
D. To retain such independent experts which the Board
shall deem necessary, provided that expenditures for same do not exceed
amounts budgeted therefor, and subject to the approval of the Township
Committee as may be otherwise required by law.
E. To hold hearings and adjudicate appeals by tenants
as provided for in this chapter.
F. To establish such forms to be used by the landlord
and tenant in seeking any relief from the Board.
G. To provide a reasonable opportunity to be heard to
both landlord and tenant prior to making any determination. However,
the Board may, in its discretion, limit the number of witnesses or
length of any hearings before it.