Pinewood Estates Management Pledge to Make Repairs

The persistence of Pinewood Estates' residents in bringing concerns to the Township Committee may be paying off, as the mobile home park's management company promises to address much-needed repairs.

The governing body reported at its regular meeting Monday that representatives of the Newbury Management Company, which oversees the adult mobile home community on Route 72, met with township attorney Jerry Dasti and Administrator Dave Breeden after residents . Meanwhile, the management company also met Monday with residents to hear their concerns.

"It is important to note that while Pinewood Estates mobile home park is a private concern, the township will work diligently on behalf of the residents to ensure a deserved quality of life," Committeeman Martin Lisella said.

Senior residents of the 321-unit adult park turned to the township in recent months after saying their complaints to the on-site manager and Michigan-based management company went unaddressed, with shoddy roads, a shuttered pool, overgrown and dead trees, a poor septic system and mobile homes in total disrepair ruining their quality of life.

Lisella said "property management was very receptive to many of the items discussed" after the township got involved, and pledged to complete the following:

• Install a new pool by July 4th. Repairs to the existing pool are cost-prohibitive, with it being cheaper to simply replace the existing one.
• Secure the service of a vendor to remove dead trees and prune dead branches.
• Inspect roadways and recreation areas to determine if any repairs are needed.
• Commit to rent to individuals 55 and older along with the "continued performance of a comprehensive background check on all potential renters."

Lisella said that while the meeting was encouraging, township officials will see the process through.

"The township will make sure the promised improvements at the park are completed in an appropriate fashion," he said.

While Pinewood residents have said their oral and written complaints were routinely ignored, David Hale, Newbury's regional manager, has said resident concerns are addressed in a timely fashion.

“Just last year we had a roundtable with the people to talk about some of the concerns,” Hale has said. “If we get a resident comment, we try to touch base with them within 48 hours, just letting them know we’ve got their information.

“I was not aware of anything that was sent of the magnitude that they spoke of, “ Hale added, “and I asked the manager if she received anything and she said ‘No.’ That kind of threw me off, because that’s why we have the manager at the office, Monday through Friday, if not Saturday, to be available to answer any questions the residents have.”

There was indeed a lengthy meeting Monday between residents and the management company to allow residents to air their concerns.

Breeden said "for the most part, the residents were pleased with what the property management had to say.

"It appears property management is addressing in an appropriate fashion the concerns that residents brought forth to the Township Committee," Breeden said.