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MHOO-OSTA NEWSBRIEF What is a Committee of Seven? According to Oregon State Statute, Title 10 90.600(5)(a) permits the establishment of a community relations committee consisting of members of a residential home park, duly elected in a park wide election process, to meet with the landlord in order to discuss tenant issues. There need only be two “officers,” a chairperson and a secretary or “meeting recorder.” This is not a Board of any kind, as this group does not have a life of its own. It’s function is very simple: the “committee of seven” meets with the landlord to negotiate issues that concern park residents and are relevant to their lifestyle. The group meets no more than twice a year. This tool has proven very effective in giving residents and landlords alike the opportunity to sit and troubleshoot issues in ways that benefit everyone. How to form a Committee of Seven. Designate a contact resident for the initial formation of the committee. Next, circulate a resident flyer to everyone in the park. The flyer should explain the purpose of a committee of seven, state the day of the committee election, and direct anyone wishing to serve on the committee, or wishing to nominate someone to serve, to submit their names to the contact resident. On Election Day, if more than seven park residents receive nominations, a vote by ballot, containing the names of those nominated, will need to take place. The seven residents receiving the most votes will be the designated Committee of Seven. If seven or fewer residents respond or are nominated for the Committee, then they will automatically comprise the Committee of Seven. Park landlords, obviously, cannot participate in the Committee of Seven, as they do not represent the tenants interests, but rather, those of the landlord. Park residents, however, can be members of other park groups and still serve on the Committee of Seven. How does a Community Relations Committee Meeting Run? Basically, its YOUR meeting. You do NOT have to give the landlord an “agenda” prior to the meeting outlining residential complaints. You simply ask him to meet with the group and offer the landlord a choice of days and times that work for the Committee. Upon meeting, it is important NOT to deal with neighbor to neighbor complaints, and to limit your issues to 6 or 7 of the residents’ top concerns. It is important to follow this process to the letter. Park management companies do very little to foster this process. It is a right and responsibility of the resident. Having multiple “committees of seven” within the same park, due to the incorrect implementation of the formation process, confuses the landlords, who simply cannot know which group is the appropriate group with to be working. Worse, it gives park owners and lobbyists ammunition to repeal this hard won right, as they will say it is ineffective due to “turf wars”, or various competing interests of different resident groups within the same park. Let’s not lose the best opportunity we have for negotiating all issues, other than rent, with park management.
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