More Charges as Heat Issue Remains Despite Bristol Borough Action

Bristol Borough officials  last week met with LevittownNow.com  to provide information about the Harbour Lights Apartment complex and the heating issues residents of the complex have been experiencing.

Code enforcement officer John Miller and Borough Manager James Dillon, in response to requests and articles published, felt the public should know the borough is doing all it legally to help residents at the complex get their heat and hot water back.

Miller, sitting with a stack of yellow tickets on his desk for Radcliffe Associates LLC, owners of the complex, estimated that fines could top out at about $25,000 for the owners of the complex. He added that he planned to visit residents again that Wednesday.

Additionally, officials shared information that Radcliffe Associates LLC entered into an agreement with Sun Burst Energy Systems Inc for work to be completed to fix the alleged problems with providing heat for residents. Old pipes seem to be the issue but no one knows for sure, Miller said.

“We’ve been aware of the issue since December 18 when a resident came to us and complained,” Miller said showing LevittownNow.com the complaint filed that day. Miller cited the complex later that day for failure to supply heat. Twenty five citations have now been filed against the complex’s owners for not providing heat to residents, many of whom are seniors living on fixed incomes, or families that have young children.

Letters posted to entrances of the buildings affected offer residents the opportunity to stay at a local hotel, however, many are afraid to leave their homes or simply don’t want to.

Miller met with a reporter at the complex later that day as part of his own follow up visit to assess whether or not the Radcliffe Associates LLC as per E-mail communication was in fact starting work to address the lack of heat so many have recently complained about. In the back of building C, there were green flags dug into the lawn to indicate where excavation work was to begin, according to one resident of the complex who asked their name not be used.

However, there was no work actually taking place fix what officials say is an issue with the pipes.

LevittownNow.com was invited into residents apartments of both C & D buildings with very different results in each case. During the afternoon visit two apartments had heat, so much heat that at times sweat  beading from the head of the apartment renter. The same could be said for a second apartment visited in another building where heating complaints are piling up like the snow outside in the complexes parking lot.

Later that evening on a second visit, two apartments, one in each building, were freezing upon entering them. The renter, huddled with a small space heater, said they are at a loss for words as to why there is heat at some points during the day at others no heat.

The first residents met with defended the complex and its management saying they are addressing the issue and that “Sam isn’t the kind of guy to do something like this on purpose.” When asked who Sam is and what his connection is to the complex the residents said he was the manager.

Its been alleged that one of several owners of the complex owned by the LLC is a New Jersey resident by the name of “Sam,” however, the LLC listed as owner of the complex has no names affiliated with the apartment complex that has had heating issues since before Christmas Eve.

One resident called a man by the name of  “Sam.” While he spoke in a resident’s apartment and put a reporter on the phone with the man identified as “Sam.”

When asked his last name and what his connection was to the complex, Sam refused to provide that information asking if “last names could be left out.”

LevittownNow.com told the gentleman on the other side of the phone for legal and credibility purposes a last name and title would be required in order to add any of comments to the story.  We asked for contact information for a spokesperson or representative  to get in touch with this news organization.

LevittownNow.com has yet to receive a call or official comment at publication time from Radcliffe Associates LLC.

Miller said that sadly residents often make the mistake of taking the law into their own hands by not paying rent instead of creating an escrow account and taking legal action.

Miller did say that unless residents report something to the borough or its officials there isn’t much that can be done for them. “We do want to hear from our residents if there are any problems,” he added.

Two families over the weekend contacted LevittownNow.com on behalf of relatives living at the complex saying their family members won’t speak on the record “out of fear of retribution.”

According to one email received Sunday, a resident’s bedroom topped out at 44 degrees a little after 7 p.m. in the evening over the weekend. Another family member insinuated in their e-mail that the heat was being turned off and on purposely by management.

One thing is clear, with an arctic blast heading our way with crushing cold something will need to be done to protect the residents.

Official comment from the owners of the complex has yet to be provided.

At the end of the meeting, Miller wanted to make it abundantly clear residents need to call and let him know, adding “I can’t help if I don’t know.”

LevittownNow.com will update this story as new details emerge.