Rent Board — Portland, ME
Date: 2025-11-19
Time: 17:00

RENT BOARD
 November 19, 2025
 5:00 PM

ZOOM INFORMATION:

 Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
 https://portlandmaine-
 gov.zoom.us/j/89573671630?pwd=PEAlG9Nv2eu0bN8scaeWmfut2YOn1C.1
 Passcode:515179

 Phone one-tap:
 +13092053325,,89573671630#,,,,*515179# US
 +13126266799,,89573671630#,,,,*515179# US (Chicago)

 Join via audio:
 +1 309 205 3325 US
 +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
 +1 646 931 3860 US
 +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
 +1 305 224 1968 US
 +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
 +1 689 278 1000 US
 +1 719 359 4580 US
 +1 253 205 0468 US
 +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
 +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
 +1 360 209 5623 US
 +1 386 347 5053 US
 +1 507 473 4847 US
 +1 564 217 2000 US
 +1 669 444 9171 US
 Webinar ID: 895 7367 1630
 Passcode: 515179
 International numbers available: https://portlandmaine-
 gov.zoom.us/u/kwnoAr1ft
II. ROLL CALL:

III. COMMUNICATIONS:
 Please note: Written public comment must be received via email
 (rentboard@portlandmaine.gov) by 12pm the day before the scheduled
 meeting. The subject line needs to read "Written Public Comment"
 a. Reschedule December Meeting
 b. Rent Control Report - Q3 2025
IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

 a. Rent Increase Application - Completeness Review
 Owner: Woodford Arms, Inc., PO Box 10563, Portland, ME 04104
 Address: 168-180 Woodford St, all 18 units
 CBL: 124-J-014-001 & 124-J-012-001
 b. Rent Increase Application - Completeness Review
 Owner: RSAA Properties LLC, PO Box 9, Greenwood, ME 04255
 Address: 118 Providence St, Units 188 & 120
 CBL: 425-I-010-001
 c. Rent Increase Application - Public Comment
 Owner: Saunders Street Apartments LLC, 51 Belfield Rd, Cape Elizabeth, ME
 04107
 Representative: Willard Bollenbach and Randi Bollenbach, 51 Belfield Rd,
 Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
 Address: 23 Saunders St, all 5 units
 CBL: 130-G-014-001
V. New Business

 a. Schedule Tenant Rights Appeals
 b. Rent Increase Application - Completeness Review
 Owner: Lewis Robinson, 46 Prospect St, Portland, ME 04103
 Address: 42 Prospect St, both units
 CBL: 124-E-006-001
 c. Approval of Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law
VI. Adjourn

Remote Rent Board Meeting Minutes - Held Via Zoom

Wednesday, November 19, 2025​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

II. Roll Call - 0:01:17

Matthew Lax, Tenant, District 1 - Chair
Matthew Walker, Tenant, District 2
Christopher “Buddy” Moore, Tenant, District 3
Rebecca Bolduc, Homeowner, District 4
Vacant, District 5
Anne-Laure Razat, Tenant, At-Large
Kristen Carreras, Landlord, At-Large

Staff present:
Dylan Orr, Rental Registration Coordinator
Benjamin Plante, Esq., Counsel for the Rent Board

III. Communications

 a.​ Reschedule December Meeting - 0:02:23

0:07:22 - Matthew Lax moves to schedule meetings for December 2, 2025 at 5:30 pm and
December 17, 2025 at 5:00 pm. Seconded by Kristen Carreras. (6-0) The motion passes.

 b.​ Rent Control Report - Q3 2025 - 0:10:12



IV. Unfinished Business - 0:11:17

 a.​ Rent Increase Application - Completeness Review
 Owner: Woodford Arms, Inc., PO Box 10563, Portland, ME 04104
 Property Address: 168-180 Woodford St, all 18 units
 CBL: 124-J-014-001 & 124-J-012-001

0:13:34 - The property owner presents the application.

0:34:44 - Matthew Walker moves to find the application complete. Seconded by Kristen
Carreras. (6-0) The motion passes.

 b.​ Rent Increase Application - Completeness Review - 0:35:50
 Owner: RSAA Properties LLC, PO Box 9, Greenwood, ME 04255
 Property Address: 118 Providence St, Units 188 & 120
 CBL: 425-I-010-001

0:38:10 - Matthew Walker exits the meeting.
0:38:20 - The property owner presents the application.

0:48:46 - Matthew Walker returns.

1:12:32 - Matthew Walker moves to schedule a public hearing once application is complete with
the submission of requested items. Requested items include lease or proof of rent for 118 & 120
for 2014 & 2019 (or any earlier years), time breakdown or percentage allocatable to each unit
for the accounting costs, time breakdown or percentage allocatable to each unit for the legal
fees, and a cover letter. Seconded by Kristen Carreras. (6-0) The motion passes.

 c.​ Rent Increase Application - Public Comment - 1:15:20
 Owner: Saunders Street Apartments LLC, 51 Belfield Rd, Capt Elizabeth, ME
 04107
 Representative: Willard Bollenback and Randi Bollenback, 51 Belfield Rd, Cape
 Elizabeth, ME 04107
 Property Address: 23 Saunders St, all 5 units
 CBL: 130-G-014-001

1:24:08 - A representative for the property presents the application.

1:44:41 - Matthew Lax moves to go into Executive Session pursuant to 1M.R.S. § 405(6)(E) to
consult with counsel regarding the board’s legal rights and duties with respect to the 23
Saunders Street rent increase application. Seconded by Kristen Carreras. (6-0) The motion
passes.

1:46:12 through 2:07:08 - The Board enters into an Executive Session.

2:24:29 - Matthew Walker moves to strike the $12,000 management fee from 2023 instead
apply the owner-performed labor figure of 5% for both years of the total rental income.
Seconded by Kristen Carreras. (6-0) The motion passes.

2:43:23 - Matthew Walker moves to adjust 2024 water expense from $17.73 to $15.98.
Seconded by Anne-Laure Razat. (6-0) The motion passes.

2:46:07 - Matthew Walker moves to reduce 2023 repair costs $36.95 due to late fee added.
Seconded by Matthew Lax. (6-0) The motion passes.

3:23:30 - Matthew Lax moves to deny the application for the rent increase at 23 Saunders
Street based on the calculations contained in the worksheet shared on the screen now and the
basis that the banked rent for each rental unit exceeds the amount necessary to achieve fair
return on investment. Seconded by Kristen Carreras. (6-0) The motion passes.

3:26:33 through 3:32:55 - The Board takes a recess.
V. New Business

 a.​ Schedule Tenant Rights Complaint - 33 State Street - 3:33:31

3:46:44 - Matthew Lax moves to schedule two complaints for December 2, 2025 and one
complaint for December 17, 2025. Seconded by Christopher “Buddy” Moore. (6-0) The motion
passes.

 b.​ Rent Increase Application - Completeness Review - 3:48:19
 Owner: Lewis Robinson, 46 Prospect St, Portland, ME 04103
 Property Address: 42 Prospect st, both units
 CBL: 124-E-006-001

3:49:52 - The property owner presents the application.

4:29:07 - Anne-Laure Razat moves to find complete with the additional items requested and
schedule for public hearing on December 17, 2025 meeting. Seconded by Kristen Carreras.
(6-0) The motion passes.

4:31:18 - Mathew Walker moves to suspend rules and continue past 9:30 pm. Seconded by
Christopher “Buddy” Moore. (4-2; Lax and Bolduc vote no) The motion passes.

 c. Approval of Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law

4:47:30 - Kristen Carreras moves to approve Findings of Fact for 58 Federal St, Unit 58-2.
Seconded by Christopher “Buddy” Moore. (6-0) The motion passes.

5:06:21 - Matthew Walker moves to approve Findings of Face 218 Ocean Avenue as written.
Seconded by Anne-Laure Razat. (6-0) The motion passes.

5:08:25 - Anne-Laure Razat moves to table 489 Cumberland Ave to the next regularly scheduled
meeting December 17, 2025. Seconded by Kristen Carreras. (6-0) The motion passes.

VI. Adjourn

5:10:00 - Kristen Carreras moves to adjourn. Seconded by Anne-Laure Razat. (6-0) The motion
passes.