Housing complex to draw complaint

HANOVER TWP. – Commissioners said they will file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development against Hanover Village Apartments.

The move comes after residents who live adjacent to the apartments voiced their concerns to commissioners at Monday night's meeting about the growing trouble in the area.

"I don't feel safe living in my own home," one Highland Drive resident told commissioners. "We don't know what else to do."

Residents told commissioners that since Easter, they've had to deal with arson, knocked-down fences, stolen property and numerous acts of vandalism. Just this past week, vandals threw eggs at parked cars, they said.

Residents said they reported it to the apartment complex managers, but management told them that there's nothing they can do.

Commissioner Jeffery Lewis said the first step the township plans to take is to file a formal complaint with HUD. The complaint will be filed before the September commissioner's meeting, he said.

Commissioner Frank Ciavarella said it's a burden on residents who live in the area to have to deal with the problems.

In other business:

•The commissioners approved a payment of $22,845 to Multiscape Inc. to replace a section of drain pipe on Redcoat Lane and $9,500 to Ed Krasavage Construction to repair a collapsed manhole in the Newtown section.

•Ciavarella and Commissioner William Watkins voted against hiring attorney Dick Goldberg and an associate at an hourly rate of $410 to represent the township in case it goes to arbitration with the police department.

Chairman Al Bagusky said the move to hire Goldberg was a precaution and he didn't know if the township would go to arbitration.