Rent control for mobile homes

Town Meeting has approved rent control for mobile home parks. Monday’s special meeting created a bylaw and a control board, but the moves do not take effect until the state Legislature passes a home-rule bill authorizing it. The actions came after a rent increase of more than 30 percent at the town’s only mobile home park. The meeting also approved $85,000 for an emergency generator for Town Hall, $118,000 for police overtime and part-time dispatchers, and $110,000 to study sewer expansion. Voters also approved easements to the Olmsted, Richardson, Parkview, and middle schools as part of the Safe Routes to School Program. The town already owns the land, on which walkways would be built.