20 Herald & Lantern 30 January 85

Tenants Threaten To Sue After Being Frozen Out

NORTH CAPE MAY — Repairs to Townbank Manor apartments won't be completed for another two to four weeks. Lower Township Councilman David F Brand Jr estimated Saturday night Meanwhile, he said, tenants are considering legal action against the complex owners to recover costs of temporary housing and. perhaps, to compensate residents for belongings ruined when frozen water pipes ruptured after Arctic weather caused a power failure Jan. 20 in four of the five 16-unit apartment buildings off Bayshore and Town Bank roads. County health officials condemned 64 of the 80 units as uninhabitable last week Some complained that their apartments were poorly built and insulated before 150 tenants unanimously agreed, during a Friday night meeting with local officials, to find out what legal options they have against the complex owners. Kiejdan and Trocki of Northfield. "I KNOW A COUPLE of them are getting ready to sue — there's no doubt about it," Deputy Mayor Joseph Davis said even before the meeting. Brand said tenants selected representatives then to review the legal options, and that the county has offered advice from its Legal Aid staff. "We're going to have to find that negligence was involved," one tenant, who asked not to be named, said of grounds for a suit Sunday. "There's not too much I can tell you except that we agreed on a class action." Tenants will probably decide this week, the source added, whether to sue the owners or attempt to negotiate a settlement Late Monday night, a tenants' group arranged another meeting in Township Hall through Brand. It was scheduled for last night, however, too late for The Lantern to report the outcome. Brand said Monday, though, that he was fairly sure the tenants planned to hire a lawyer and file suit. Brand vowed Saturday that "whatever repairs are done to those buildings yill be done to the standards of the State Of NewJersey — or whatever applies to get that job done right. "You can take it from me," he promised. "they're not going to be done haphazardly. If they are, it's not going to open back up." He said township inspectors would make sure repairmen comply with the strictest letter of building codes before the affected apartments are declared livable again Many of the Townbank Manor tenants colletft rental assistance, noted their Third Ward'councilman. The owners' insurance doesn't cover tenants' losses, Brand said, and most of them are not insured against the damages to their property. "I PERSONALLY HAVEN'T met one person in that complex that has any insurance," he added. "The people on the first floor, a large part of them, lost a lot." Those losses were obvious last week from the water-damaged household ap- , pliances, furniture, etc. that packed and overflowed trash dumpsters at ihe complex late last week. Some tenants were still trying to salvage what they could from their apartments then. Brand said he couldn't estimate the

tenants losses "Well." he observed, "you've got 64 units and everybody lost something " Even if insured, replacement costs for damaged belongings would exceed the provable values, he agreed, urging tenants Friday to photograph and itemize their property losses. When he inspected the complex last Wednesday. Brand said he found an elderly man. reclining on a wet bed, trying to keep warm with a portable electric heater on a soggy carpet "IT'S WORSE THAN I expected, Township Manager James R. Stump said Thursday. "The Board of Health condemned them (units) and ordered them evacuated. "So, we've got a number of different agencies trying to set up alternative housing," he added. Township officials, Stump continued, were encouraging tenants to seek temporary shelter with relatives. Told the Townbank Manor owners would pick up the tab, some tenants checked into a Cape May hotel, he reported Wednesday. The following day, however, Stump said, the owners had indicated "they would pay for it; but they reneged." Brand said he heard two versions of the story last Wednesday. One had the owners footing the hotel bills for displaced tenants while the other had the tenants paying, with the understanding that they could deduct it from their apartment rents. The councilman got in touch with the son of one owner last Wednesday who, Brand said, told him the owner's insurance wouldn't cover temporary housing for tenants or their losses. He then turned to Gerald M. Thornton, his political adversary from the May township elections, Lower's regular Republican leader and the director of the county Board of Chosen Freeholders. BRAND CREDITS THORNTON for the lion's share of the relief effort: "He got the ball rolling for the county getting us some ajd." Thornton fielded Health Department, Social Services and officials from other county agencies to the complex. Marvin Morrell of the Welfare Board put in a lot of hours last week, finding housing for the tenants. Temporary housing is being paid for from a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to the county, Deputy Mayor Davis explained. But it's supposed to be repaid from tenants' insurance or money from any litigation. Officials, though, will work out arrangements for tenants facing outright cases of financial hardship. Brand said. "The county's already doing that'" he confirmed. Although the tenants' possible legal action took shape during their Friday night meeting with officials, that meeting was actually called to make sure no one still needed shelter. Brand said, and also to reduce the "mass confusion "over who was doing what for whom. Those still in need of help or advice can contact Morrell directly (729-9200) or through Bernard Ruckhardt, Lower Township emergency manager (886-2005 ) . Aid is also available from the local chapter of the American Red Cross at 465-7382. "If we can help them," Brand said, "we'll be glad to help them." '

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News Digest resignation, the tax assessor's illness and other "unrelated occurances" — prevented Appraisal Surveys of Cherry Hill from completing Upper Township's revaluation by last Oct. 1. Municipal of ficials, therefore, have asked the county Board of Taxation to extend the deadline until next Oct. 1. Property in Upper was assessed at a little over half its market value last year. Changing Times OCEAN CITY — Once this was a peaceful little town, but no more. After casinos came to Atlantic City, things changed. Ocean City became a bedroom community to the gambling joints. The population here has been soaring, and so has the crime rate — it jumped by near ly a quarter last year. Meanwhile, law enforcement work is becoming a real headache, the police department said in its yearly report. Flood Relief WHITESBORO — An underground drainage system will be built with a $110,788 state grant to prevent flooding of about 30 homes — which happened here during last spring's storm. Catch basins and 2,976 feet of drain pipes will serve Main Street at Pennsylvania Avenue; Gibbs, Wiley and Anna streets. Funding is coming to Middle Township from the state Department of Community Affairs. Kicked Up a Ruckus WILDWOOD — Four men in handcuffs kicked open the door of a moving police wagon on the way to the county jail, but didn't jump out. They finally settled down, closed the door again, and resigned themselves to their fate when the driver refused to slow up. Meanwhile, two Middle Township patrol cars escorted the van and a dozen guards greeted the prisoners when the paddy wagon arrived at jail. Rehab Loans Set WOODBINE — A $350,000 state grant will be used to make loans for rehabilitating 40 low- and moderateincome properties. The borough will take applications based on need and income. As the loans are repaid, the money can be lent again to other borrowers. A series of town meetings will be held to figure out the procedures. The $350,000 was awarded as a Small Cities Community Development Block grant. Diller Steps Down COURT HOUSE — Commenting that his wife would never believe it, county Planning Board chairman William J. Diller Jr. of Avalon turned over the gavel to vice chairman William Laskey of Stone Harbor. "Ten years (as chair-

man) is enough," said Diller. Madelvn Calloway of Wildwood Crest was elected vice chairman and county Engineer Neil O. Clarke of Seaville was reelected secretary. The board also set its 1985 meeting schedule: 3 p.m. Feb. 19, April 16, June 11, Oct. 8 and Dec. 17, and 7:30 p.m. March 19, May 21, July 16, Sept 17 and Nov. 19. Temporary Help COURT HOUSE - County Park Commission member Frank Madjaewski of Palermo has been named by the freeholders as temporary replacement for parks director Leon Fulginiti. Madjaewski is being paid at an annual rate of $26,814, the same base salary as Fulginiti who is recuperating from the complications of a fractured leg. 5 Arrested VILLAS — Lower Township police arrested five suspects in connection with alleged "major drug, burglary, theft and stolen property rings," Police Chief Robert M. Denny notified Township Council Monday. More arrests are ex-

pected, he said. "The arrests and continuing investigation have solved 136 burglaries, attempted burglaries and thefts... which were committed in the Villas, North Cape May and marina areas during the period 1983 to January 1985," according to the chief, who did not release details on suspects or charges. Arts and Crafts VILLAS — Lower Township councilmen voted 3-2 Monday night, directing the township manager to hire a recreational aide for arts and crafts at the Joseph Millman Community center here at $5.50 an hour. Health Board member Cass Clark from North Cape May, currently fills that job as a volunteer. Opposing the resolution, Councilman Robert Conroy argued that it was proposed three days after the township handed layoff notices to six employes (see related story). Others argued that the job could be filled by an unpaid college student. School Vote Today COLD SPRING — Polls are open 5-9 p.m. today for Lower Township School District's special election. Voters are asked to approve a two-part ballot question for financing repairs at Lower Township Consolidated School. Approval would transfer $400,000 in surplus for the project, and allow a $400,000 bond issue. First Ward (Villas) residents vote at Villas firehouse, Bayshore Road. Second Ward (North Cape May, Town Bank) voters cast ballots at the Town Bank firehouse on Town Bank Road. Third Ward (Erma, Cold Spring, Shawcrest, South Cape May, Diamond Beach) residents vote at Consolidated School 838 Seashore Rd. here. Never on a Tuesday VILLAS — Several official meeting schedules for the Lower Township Planning Board have been printed this month but none should list Tuesday sessions, according to Richard Perniciaro, planning director. Regular board meetings are slated on third Thursdays with work review sessions on second Thursdays and regular work sessions on first, fourth and fifth Thursdays. Builder Halted DIAMOND BEACH — A permanent injunction has been placed against developer Robert Ciampitti, forbiding nun to fill 25 acres along Park Boulevard in this Lower Township resort. Ciampitti has been trying to build a $150 million complex of condos, motels, single homes and townhouses. It was the latest ruling in district court during the two-year legal battle. Ciampitti's lawyer is appealing the injunction. Village Board COLD SPRING — Freeholders have named a nine-member advisory board for Historic Cold Spring Village which they took over last month. It includes the village s former owners, Joseph and Patricia Anne Salvatore; county museum curator Somers Corson; Florence Heal of the Cultural and Heritage Commission; Wildwood School istrict Supt. Arthur Motz; former county administrator Kathryn Willis; county Facilities and Services Director Harry Kehr; Freeholder Herbert C. Frederick; and John Dressel retired. of North Cape