Denying that the board members are hostile" to anyone who appears at meetings, Cohn says. "I think that's simply a misunderstanding."

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On a council sharply divided over housing policy. David Sullivan is consistently the strongest supporter of Cambridge's tough codes on landlords and developers.

"No member of the rent board has ever been removed" by a city manager, Sullivan says. "It's as if they were appointed for life Noting--that Cohn has served more than 10 years. Sullivan says that Cohn's seniority "creates tremendous problems because that precedent is not written down anywhere. It's an amazing situation" that is fundamentally unfair" to those with little or no rent control experience, he says.

"Some members of the current board--at least one--don't get along very well with people," he adds. "There are both personality and political problems at the rent board, Sullivan says. "Some are personal, but they're mostly institutional, and thus at base political. If it [rent control] works, some special interests might get hurt too much."

The rent board's mission is to protect tenants but the current board--at least some members--loses sight of that fact." Part of the reason the rent board has swayed from its purpose stems from persistent political opposition to rent control across the city and within the city council, he explains. "Historically the city manager [who appoints rent board members] has taken the easy way out" of the political bechive of housing debates by supporting "a non-mission for the rent board," according to Sullivan.

He concludes that what is really needed to improve rent board management and procedures "is an aggressive rent board appointed by" the city manager. But Sullivan says the last and current city managers' administration "has been unwilling to make the necessary changes."

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Since taking over Cambridge's top administrative post last summer. City Manager Robert Healy has watched the council walk a tightrope in support of housing codes.

Healy says that he has received "only one" complaint about "rudeness" on the part of rent board members in meetings. "The majority of the complaints. I've received are about the length of time it takes for a rent adjustment."

But Healy says he is "constantly prepared to review the administration and composition of the rent board." The members face "difficult issues under hostile conditions created by the length of time that is required to complete the procedure," Healy says. "Whoever the petitioning party is, then fuse is likely to be a little short from the delay by the time they reach the board."

"There are always personality clashes in a quasi-judicial agency like the rent board," he says. "When you do not get what you want, arguments are inevitable. "But Healy stresses that "if there are any problems with the actions of the board. I have no difficulty in reviewing the membership." He says he is aware that some members of the current board--especially Alfred Cohn--may have an unfair advantage because of their seniority. "Should we replace him [Cohn?]" Healy asks, and then responds to his own question, saying. "I don't think that he's performing poorly. He may be an asset because of his expertise."

"I've never been to a rent board meetings" Healy says. "Maybe I should attend one."

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Acheson Callaghan declined to return phone calls to his office.