West Deptford Mayor Responds to Comments on Sherwood West Property

An eyesore property in the Sherwood West section of the township has West Deptford residents up in arms about what they consider to be a health hazard in their neighborhood—or a communication issue with township officials.

In e-mails to Patch Wednesday, West Deptford Mayor Ray Chintall offered his version of events "to clear any misinformation, which is prevalent" on the subject of the Ollerton Ave. property. 

Chintall said he was told about the building Aug. 27 by Township Administrator Eric Campo, who has said West Deptford got its first notice of a complaint the day prior.

Chintall said the two notified the Township zoning and code enforcement officials, the Gloucester County Board of Health, Gloucester County Animal Control office, and the local SPCA.

In addition, they sent a letter the property owner announcing intention to inspect the premises.

"The Township is pursuing every legal action possible in a prudent and timely manner, as the law allows the Township to do," Chintall said. 

The mayor is confident that West Deptford has the grounds for enforcement, citing the township code 112, section 6, which defines nuisances as:

"any matter, thing, condition or act which is or may become detrimental or a menace to the health of the inhabitants of this municipality"

and

"any matter, thing, condition or act which is or may become an annoyance, or interfere with the comfort or general well-being of the inhabitants of this municipality."

But Chintall expressed reluctance to harshly penalize a homeowner who may apparently be in crisis.

"I am truly hoping that as a community that we can come to the aid of any resident who needs help," Chintall said. 

He also acknowledged, however, that if a resident refuses help, it's hard for the community to fix the situation without government intervention. Once the government is involved, so is the force of law.

"When I become informed of residents' concerns on various other issues, I do not let grass grow underneath my feet," Chintall said.

Still, there's a legal process that must be followed, Chintall said, even if that process "may seem rather slow and cumbersome" to residents who have been dealing with what they claim is a chronic nuisance on their block.

"[The] township cannot just knock down a door if the homeowner refuses to answer," Chintall said. "There are legal guidelines that must be followed in order to protect the homeowner as well as the neighbors."

Chintall said that since hearing of the complaint, he's driven by the property twice personally to take a look, and knocked on the door with no response. 

"It seems that the homeowners of the house in question are very private, and the neighbors have had little or no contact with them in past years," he said. 

"I have to respect their privacy, as long as their way of living does not adversely affect those who live in the vicinity of them, and [they] are in fact not violating the law."

But the mayor said that he spoke with "the main spokesperson in Sherwood West" to assure that resident that the Township "is proceeding to take appropriate action."

"The homeowner who lives a couple doors from the house was satisfied with my follow-up discussion to what Campo expressed to him on late Friday afternoon," Chintall said.

With that in mind, Chintall promised regular follow-up with Campo "on the results of the course of action put in place," as well as a look into "any issues from the promptness or possible lack of, if any, of response from the township, before a formal written complaint was received at the Township on August 26."