Group Homes have residents up in arms in South Strabane

Group Homes have residents up in arms in South Strabane

By Judi Panasik
The Weekly Recorder
May 16, 2008

As Dan Piatt took his oath to fill the position as a South Strabane Supervisor he had no idea what his first meeting was going to hold.

At the South Strabane Township Supervisor’s meeting on Tuesday May 13, public comment took 2 hours and 15 minutes as residents from the area between the Washington Hospital, Colonial Woods Pool and Driscoll Park took turns telling supervisors their concerns about group homes encroaching on their neighborhood, and wanted action taken for those who had not followed township policy.

Carl Trusler, a resident of the area for over 38 years was the first to speak. As Trusler was followed by many other residents of the area it took over an hour to figure out what was really going on and then another hour to resolve the issue.

The main problem was the residents started out sounding like an anger mob that was on their way to a lynching. They complained about a particular group home but wouldn’t come out and say that they believed it was for recovering drug addicts possibly. Those not familiar with the situation had to almost read between the lines. They complained about people walking the streets using telephones and old junky cars that were parked up and down the street in front of resident’s homes. They didn’t like people coming and going all of the time at all hours.

Truth be told they sounded almost un-American and elitist. But after the facts started to unravel, it was evident why the residents were upset.

First and foremost, Trusler and his son-in-law Tom Berton had informed Township Manager John Stickle that they believed a home was being sold to a buyer and was going to be used as a group home. Stickle, who is also the township zoning officer, appeared to take no action. And if he did he did not defend himself at the meeting. At one point Stickle did say that he talked to the owners and was going to send them paperwork to fill out to determine whether or not it was a group home.

In South Strabane the ordinance states that a group home is for people who can’t take care of themselves and need 24-hour supervision. A group home would include those with disabilities, or seniors who could not take care of themselves. It would not include criminals or halfway homes for drug addicts. It also states in the ordinance that a group home has to be at least a ½ mile away from another group home. Group homes are allowed in a R-3 zone, which is what the area in question is.

On Magnolia Avenue a group home already exists and was not an issue with the residents. They were concerned about the ones that came into their neighborhood, that is less than a ½ mile, and have not informed the township.

The home in question resident’s said was owned by a $250 million company, North West. Residents questioned how a company that was that big could say they weren’t aware they had to check with the township.

Stickle claims the company said they were unaware they needed to inform the township.

There were more than 20 residents that came out to talk or support those who did. They continued to ask for a timeline and wanted the home closed down immediately if it was determined to be a group home or a residence that did not meet township ordinances.

At one point Supervisor Ed Mazur made the mistake of trying to give a speech to the group explaining that he understood they were not familiar with how government worked and that this may take a while to straighten out. Mazur was taken out of context by a resident when he said they needed to watch what they said because they could come off paranoid. Unfortunately the resident that misunderstood him proved his very point.

Where most of the residents who spoke had been aware of the situation for weeks and had witnessed things, that although not criminal, could lead one to conclusions that criminal activity was going on.

This particular resident chose to stand up and attack Mazur and showing she had absolutely no idea what he had said. She had only heard about the situation, by her own words, a few days before and was almost in a state of hysteria. At one point when another resident was trying to lend advice to help them she was actually telling them to be quit so she could talk.

At one point Mazur tried to explain to the audience that he was concerned that what they were describing wasn’t a group home at all but a half way house. The problem was there were so many people with so many different stories it was like trying to put a puzzle together where all the pieces were the same color and similar shapes. It was almost impossible to make it fit. And hysterics did not help the matter.

Supervisor Tom Moore spoke up to defend Mazur who he said was misunderstood and let the residents know that they stood behind them. He also made them aware that although a car may be rusty and beat up as long as it was legal there was nothing anyone could do.

Supervisor Bob Koman suggested they get a spokesman for the group and organize the information.

Mazur made a motion that was seconded by Moore, that if it was determined that this was a group home and that did not meet township requirements, and if they had legal standing, the home would be closed down. This could mean that within 24-48 hours township might take action. Piatt, who was limited his impute his first evening, asked if the 30 days the township was granting the company was in the ordinance or law, or if it was just a courtesy. Solicitor Tom Lonich, who didn’t seem to want to offer a solution, told Piatt that it was a courtesy.

Supervisor Bob Hollick gave several speeches during the discussion about how he was behind the people and understood their dilemma, but when it came time to vote on the motion Hollick was the only on to vote against it.

The fact is this could have been handled in less than half the time, or never come to this if several things wouldn’t have happened.

First Stickle should have taken action at the beginning of April.

Second the group should have come in better prepared. When you want to make a case have a timeline and give specific facts. You can’t come in saying there were tattooed guys with rusty cars and that made you feel unsafe. This was actually a description given and then taken back by the same resident who said they realized you couldn’t make a judgement on that.

Third, one resident said he was a realtor and that many people in that room and from that neighborhood were also Realtor’s. Why didn’t any of them know what was going on. It’s a small town to begin with and realtors are usually the first ones to know.

And as Moore suggested to them keep a record of everything. Take notes, have dates, and take pictures and video if necessary.

And as Hollick told them, if you think a crime is being committed and see anything suspicious call the police.

Did the group have a right to be concerned? Absolutely. It’s a neighborhood where kids walk to the bus stop, the pool, and to the local park. Over a year ago a child was kidnapped within a ½ mile from that area by a convicted child molester.

Mazur stated that a kid should be able to walk to these places but realized the world we now lived in.

And although the group came out in force for their own cause, as soon as they got what they wanted and public comment was over, they went home. They chose not to stay for the rest of the meeting and see what other issues plagued the township.

And maybe that’s the biggest problem of all that residents only care what happens in their own back yard, not down the road. They turn a blind eye to other people’s issues and want theirs taken care of immediately.

But what people don’t realize is we are a community. What if the supervisors wouldn’t have voted to take quick action? Past boards haven’t. What happens when this happens in another neighborhood?

What people don’t seem to realize is how important those five supervisors are. They determine what can and can’t happen in and to our township. Today it’s your backyard, two years ago it was the residents on Fisher Road and Panarama Drive.

And let none of us forget Burt Barale who shows up at every meeting asking for an answer that he may never get. Over a year ago Barale warned the supervisors that The Foundry, that is now at a stand still, may end up like the project that failed across from Curringa’s. Barale was and still is concerned that the huge dirt piles and unfinished walls that his home look out at everyday may never be fixed.

Koman can joke with Barale and say he give it two years, but truth be told the township, who can tell us how high our grass can’t be, should have taken bonds on that land.

They say live and learn, something South Strabane has yet to do.