Ward 3 Councilman Fred Gauthier answers a question at a recent Fairview Park candidates forum as his opponent, attorney Jim Sassano, listens. (West Life photo by Kevin Kelley)

Challenger Sassano campaigns on rental inspections issue
By Kevin Kelley
Fairview Park
Published Oct. 28, 2009

The frequency of apartment inspections by the city’s building department is the key issue of the Ward 3 council race, at least as far as challenger Jim Sassano is concerned.

The 44-year-old attorney is attempting to unseat Fred Gauthier, a 12-year veteran of council, in Tuesday’s election.

Sassano, a Democrat, said he first became involved in the apartment issue when in 2008 he represented a tenant who lived in a poorly maintained Lorain Road apartment.

In campaign literature, Sasson has proposed imposing a $30 annual fee per apartment unit to fund more frequent inspections by the building department. The fees would be paid by the property owners.

Such a fee would be less than 1 percent of the yearly revenue of a unit with a monthly rent of $500, Sassano said. The city’s recreation department charges much higher fees for many of its program, he added.

“The city has an obligation to protect the health and safety of all its residents,” Sassano said of the need for more frequent inspections.

The current fee is $75 per apartment complex, plus an additional five dollars for the first 100 individual units, then three dollars for each unit thereafter. Council appeared to be leaning toward raising the per-unit fee to $75 until the owners of several large apartment complexes objected. They said such an increase would unfairly punish them for smaller complexes that have they bulk of the maintenance problems. Owners also said they would be forced to raise rents.

For his part, Gauthier said he supports a more modest increase in apartment fees, perhaps $100 per complex and $6 per unit. Gauthier added that if the economy were better, he’d be open to higher fees.

Sassano said if elected he would stand up to apartment owners in fighting for more inspections.

For more than a year, City Council has debated the issue, which remains in committee. The current fee structure will apparently remain in effect for 2010.

Dan Miclau, a partner in the 200 West complex, said the proposed $30 per unit increase is too high.

“I can’t understand how that would be justified for an inspection of a property that isn’t causing a problem for the city,” Miclau told West Life. “To me that seems like a waste of resources.”

Miclau also said Sassano isn’t taking into account additional costs property owners must bear, such as real estate taxes, insurance and maintenance costs.

Miclau also said it’s not fair to compare a fee on rents to recreation department fees, which are voluntary.

Miclau and his daughter, Janene Kubit, who is the property’s general manager, said Sassano mailed campaign literature to 200 West residents that did not mention his proposal to impose a $30 annual fee on apartment complexes. Homeowners in Ward 3 received different literature that did mention the inspection fee.

Miclau questioned why Sassano sent out two different pieces of campaign literature instead of the same to everyone in Ward 3.

Sassano said the reason for separate pieces of literature was to keep down mailing costs.

“I’m dealing with a very fixed budget,” Sassano said of his campaign.

Both Sassano and Kubit said 200 West residents have since received campaign literature regarding the proposed inspection fees.

Sassano also said council is in need of a voice that is independent of the administration of Eileen Patton.

“Fairview Park needs a new voice on council – someone who is willing to challenge the city’s leaders,” Sassano said.

Gauthier, 73, a Republican, said he is running for another term to help guide the economic redevelopment in the city. The retired educator has also been active in trying to reduce airplane noise from Hopkins over the city.

The economic recession has forced the city to tighten its belt, Gauthier said at a recent candidates forum. But the city is doing well financially, he added, and careful planning and work has left the city with a modest surplus. Gauthier also touted his role as one of the originators of the concept that became the Gemini Project.

“I have the time, energy and experience to help the progress in the city,” Gauthier told West Life.