Vermont Advisory Commission on Manufactured and Mobile Homes

July 12, 2004

STATE OF VERMONT EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE ORDER

WHEREAS, there is an insufficient supply of housing in Vermont with some regions suffering acute shortages; and

WHEREAS, more than 48,000 Vermonters reside in mobile homes and mobile home parks; and

WHEREAS, many issues prevent the quiet enjoyment of these homes, contribute to an unnecessarily high cost of such housing, impede development, and result in the attrition of affordable housing opportunities; and

WHEREAS, it has been more than ten years since an analysis of the opportunities and constraints of manufactured and mobile homes and mobile home parks in Vermont has been completed.

NOW THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor, I, James H. Douglas, do hereby establish the Vermont Advisory Commission on Manufactured and Mobile Homes in order to consider issues and problems related to manufactured homes, mobile homes, and mobile home parks, to research and evaluate contemporary legal and regulatory conflicts and shortfalls respecting same, and to make recommendations for rules, legislation or programs to address the needs of owners, tenants, manufacturers and developers of such housing.

The Commission shall consist of no more than fifteen members and shall include the Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs, who shall be Chair, and at least one representative from the following agencies, departments, and organizations: Agency of Natural Resources, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, Vermont State Housing Authority, Vermont Development Credit Union, Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities, and Health Care Administration, Rutland County Community Land Trust, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Vermont Housing Finance Agency, Vermont Mobile Home Owners Association, the USDA Rural Development, and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and other interested agencies or organizations necessary to the review as the Chair may recommend. Administrative support shall be provided by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

The Commission shall be advisory to the Governor and shall have the following functions and duties:

1. To serve as a central resource for the gathering and accumulation of testimony, data and other information related to manufactured and mobile homes, mobile home parks, and the laws, regulations and policies that affect the associated industry, tenants, financers, and owners.

2. To identify and prioritize the most significant barriers that impede, impair or prevent the best use of mobile and manufactured housing in Vermont.

3. To make specific recommendations for rulemaking, legislation, programs, policies or practices that will stabilize the industry, alleviate landlord and tenant problems, and promote the development and occupation of mobile and manufactured housing.

The Commission shall make its report to the Governor on or before December 15, 2005.

This Executive Order shall expire on December 31, 2005.

Witness my name hereunto subscribed and the Great Seal of the State of Vermont hereunto affixed at Montpelier this 12th day of July, 2004.

James H. Douglas Governor

By the Governor:

Parker M. Riehle Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 03-04

03-04