Airbnb hosts oppose proposed regulation

EAST HAMPTON — To Town Council Vice Chairman Mark Philhower, it’s a question of fairness and taxes.

But to residents who rent out either space in their homes or the homes themselves via the Airbnb vacation rental site, a proposed ordinance could mean they lose their homes — and the town will lose added revenues from visitors who use the option.

A dozen and a half or so people attended the most recent Town Council meeting to express their concerns about proposals they said would punish them and could force them to move.

The proposed ordinance was drafted by the town attorney and would regulate and register short-term rentals. It would also institute an annual fee to cover the costs, according to the minutes of the July 24 town council meeting.

The issue came up recently, pressed by Philhower, who said, “My big problem is this is a way of circumventing zoning.”

What’s more, he said the owners of bed and breakfasts are taxed for their operations. “But not one cent from and Airbnb comes to the town.”

The residents who spoke up at the meeting said they have never heard a word of complaint about their operations, and were stunned when confronted with the proposed ordinance.

Dean Brown, who operates the Bevin Mansion B&B, has a small house he has fixed up and rents out to customers who use the online booking and accommodations service. He has

“My question is, where is this coming from? We’re conscientious owners and we’ve never had a complaint in 10 years.” Frank Noones, resident

as many as 30 people a year stay at the house, including visitors from England and Spain, Brown said.

Without access to those short-term visitors, “It would pretty much not allow me to fix this house up,” he said, adding his visitors “spent lots of money in town.”

Another resident, Frank Noones, posed an issue that vexed many of the residents. “My question is, where is this coming from? We’re conscientious owners and we’ve never had a complaint in 10 years,” he said.

The fact there have been no complaints “feels to me like this might be politically motivated. I don’t see the need for this,” he said.

Kyle Dostaler, who described the proposed regulations as “anti-business,” asked how much administration of the new regulations would cost.

“There hasn’t been a public hearing, there hasn’t been any public input about this ordinance,” Mary Ann Dostaler said.

“This isn’t coming from the people, and the only complaints are coming from the council. There needs to be full disclosure about where this is coming from,” she said.

Bob Davis dismissed the proposal as “ludicrous.”

Virtually every homeowner who spoke said they provide their guests with directories of the stores and restaurants in town, and also encourage visitors to think about moving to East Hampton.

Former council Chairwoman Sue Weintraub said East Hampton has a history of summer rentals grouped around Lake Pocotopaug. “We’re not running a business; we’re renting our houses,” she said, calling upon the council to “work with some of the owners in a collaborative effort.”

In response, Chairwoman Melissa H. Engel said, “There isn’t anyone here who is trying to drive you out of business.”

Rather, she said, her concerns are about tax equity and about the health and safety of people who stay in these homes.

But Councilor Josh Piteo said, “What you have before you is a solution without a problem.”

He called upon his colleagues to “indemnify both long-term and short-term leases.”

Philhower said he wanted a solution that is fair to everyone, to the owners of bed and breakfasts as well as to residents who rent out their homes under the Airbnb system.

“I’ll be glad to sit down and massage this,” Philhower said, adding, “I’m hoping we can set up a workshop to work on this.”

Councilor Kevin Reich said he owns a vacation house on Cape Cod, and if he rents it out, it is subject to a bewildering number of inspections. However, the building official and fire marshal in East Hampton already “don’t have enough time in the day to do all the things they have to do.”

What’s more, Reich said, the issue properly belongs not with the council but with the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Councilor James “Pete” Brown argued for inspections. “This is a town issue, a health and safety issue. The night that somebody’s’ place goes up (in flames) because somebody did something foolish — then it will be too late.”

But Councilor Dean Markham said, “I was skeptical about this proposal from the very beginning. The more I read this, I think it’s overkill.

“It’s time to cool this off a little bit,” he said.

Engel said she felt the council should appoint a committee to review the issue with a select number of councilors and Airbnb owners — five to seven people in all — to look at the issue.

Renters who wish to serve on the committee should send their names to Town Manager Michael Maniscalco, Engel said.

File photo The town of East Hampton has proposed an ordinance that would adversely affect residents who rent out their homes to travelers through Airbnb.