Lorna Cherot Littleway is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Hillsdale Town Board is considering a new local law that would regulate short-term rentals, such as Airbnb. Board member Tom Carty reported on the measure during the board's November 13 meeting, describing the proposal as a "good beginning." Carty noted that in the proposed law, the term lodging facility will include “dwelling units” and refers to hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, dwelling units, and any establishment providing sleeping accommodations to transient guests for compensation. A transient guest is defined as a person in continuous occupancy for less than 30 days. All lodging facilities will be required to have an owner, manager or authorized representative living within 20 miles of the property along with a special permit that lists complete contact information for the owner, manager or representative. The permit would cost $50. The board must conduct a public hearing before it can adopt the new law, and the proposal must be reviewed by the Columbia County Planning Board. Town Supervisor Peter Cipkowski stressed that the proposed Local Law 1 is about “public safety primarily and quality of life.” Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.