CHESHIRE — Improvements at the Berkshire Village manufactured home park are mostly done, according to its owners, but residents say the fixes are the bare minimum and more must be done.

Last week, Crown Communities' Justin Damore, who is the lead engineer on the repair project, explained the renovations to the Cheshire Select Board, which acts as the park's rent control board. The fixes, which are mostly concentrated around the park's septic system and were flagged by the state Department of Environmental Protection, must be complete before Crown can raise rents on the park's tenants, many of whom were in attendance.

The Cheshire Select Board convened Tuesday evening to hear about Berkshire Village mobile home park repairs. The board acts as the mobile home parks rent control board, meaning if Crown Communities wants to raise rent, they have to go through the board.

Damore, who virtually attended the meeting, said the project was expected to be finished before a Department of Environmental Protection inspection scheduled for Dec. 16.

"We've already completed most everything on there," Damore said, referencing the state's order.

Tenants of the mobile home park pushed back by voicing continued complaints, including other septic systems not repaired, a lack of backup generators, and road-related issues. Residents also wanted a separate sit-down meeting with Crown Communities and the Board of Health, which is overseeing non-state inspections.

"A lot of it doesn't correspond with what you've been told tonight," said William Moreau, the secretary of the Berkshire Village Tenants Association, referencing Damore's comments.

Moreau is skeptical of the septic tanks that aren't being replaced.

"They're eight years [old], they're supposed to be inspected," he said.

Crown Communities bought Berkshire Village in 2021 for $900,000. At the time of purchase, the state was already investigating the failing septic system, and it issued an initial order of non-compliance. Moreau previously told The Eagle that Crown Communities has been working on it since 2022.

The septic system project ramped up this past year. In May, Damore said the project was 80 percent complete.

"Hopefully we'll have a couple good weeks and good weather and then everything else seems to be pretty much in line," Damore said. "I'll be in person next Wednesday morning with the DEP at the Springfield office, reviewing all the final checkoffs that we need to have by the 16th."

Moreau brought a list of issues and requests to the Select Board from the tenants of Berkshire Village that are still plaguing the mobile home park.

Damore tried to reassure the Select Board.

"Anything we've received a letter from the state that is out of compliance, has been contracted and will be done," he said.