Madison seniors say they fear some neighbors

Amanda Pinto

Jul. 3, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- MADISON -- Residents of a senior housing community had a message for the state and local officials they met with Tuesday morning: Some neighbors are making them feel afraid.

Concord Meadows, a 96-unit Woodland Road complex, is comprised of senior citizens and people with disabilities and has seen "increasing unrest among the older residents," First Selectman Al Goldberg said.

About 20 of the complex's elderly residents met with their first selectman, state representative, police chief and police officers to express concerns about some of the residents with disabilities.

Officials said the group is worried that some residents who may have mental illnesses or have drug dependency problems are noisy and exhibiting behavior that is disconcerting.

The meeting came after three residents spoke about the same concerns before the town's Senior Commission June 19.

"They don't feel safe," said state Rep. Deb Heinrich, D-Madison, who met with the group Tuesday.

There are definitely differences of lifestyle between the younger (residents with disabilities) and people that have lived there longer."

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers housing to elderly and disabled people in the same housing complexes, a combination that has caused unrest across the country.

Residents at Concord Meadows told officials they felt some of their neighbors were using drugs and being noisy and disruptive.

"(These are) seniors who get discomforted when they have to live with folks who are much younger and have different lifestyles and at some times have behaviors that are outside of the mainstream," Goldberg said.

Sally Bettencourt, property and compliance manager for Sibley Property Management which manages Concord Meadows, said she had relayed complaints to the Police Department before Tuesday's meeting and was working with police to make sure there was no drug activity or criminal behavior at Concord Meadows.

But Heinrich and Goldberg said the residents invited them to their meeting because they felt their concerns weren't being heard.

"Unfortunately, when they do call the management company, some of them have been told 'there's nothing we can do,'" Heinrich said.

Bettencourt said all applicants are screened before they are accepted -- they are subjected to court, criminal and sex offender checks -- in accordance with federal guidelines.

If they commit serious offenses -- such as sex or drug crimes -- or a pattern of offenses, they will not be considered for residency, Bettencourt said.

If a tenant violates the law while living in the community, he or she would be evicted, Bettencourt said.

She said Sibley is not allowed to ask prospective tenants what their disability is under law, but that the term "disabled" applies not only to people whose mobility is limited, but also to people with mental illness.

"I think that (the elderly residents) might incorrectly believe that we're allowed to define the parameters of what a disabled individual is, and that is a protected class and we cannot apply what their interpretation of what a disabled person is," Bettencourt said.

Acting Police Chief Robert Nolan told residents at the meeting Tuesday morning he would increase patrols driving through the neighborhood and gave residents an administrative police number to call for non-emergency related concerns, Goldberg and Heinrich said.

Elaine Reitman, the new president of Concord Meadows' board of directors, said she thought the meeting was helpful.

"We've been working with people on different issues that normally arise within a living community and we've been talking with residents all along," Reitman said. "I think we will work things out and come to an understanding."

Newstex ID: KRTB-0141-26421506