SHAMOKIN - Several city residents attended the Shamokin Housing Authority board meeting Thursday looking for solutions to problems they are facing.
The most intriguing discussion concerned a city woman who said she was experiencing ethnic and gender intimidation from a neighbor in the Raspberry Hill Complex.
"He is constantly banging on my wall, knocking down my items and causing mirrors to fall and break," the woman said. The female resident, who is black, said she thinks she's being targeted because of her gender, not her race.
She reported to the board that the individual, who was not named in the discussion, has also used racial slurs to try to intimidate her.
The worst offense occurred when her daughters called the woman at work because the man was looking into their windows.
"They are 16 and 10 and had to leave to go to another unit until I got there. I shouldn't have to deal with this," she said. "I don't want to keep getting the police involved."
Robert Wolfe, deputy sheriff, urged her to call the police any time there is an issue.
Housing authority board chairman Raymond G. Splane and executive director Ronald Miller said they will hold a hearing for all parties involved.
Two men, who live on Eighth Street, discussed parking problems they claim are caused by new parking procedures implemented at the Raspberry Hill Complex.
"There are people who are staying at the complex all night, but parking on our streets because they aren't allowed to park up there," one resident told the board. "I've seen people park on the street, grab their lunch box and wrap their coat around it and then walk up to the complex to stay the rest of the night."
Guests staying overnight with residents of the Raspberry Hill complex must receive prior authorization and a parking placard or the vehicle will be towed.
Members of the authority board said they are sympathetic with the Eighth Street residents' issues, but there is little the authority can do to stop on-street parking.
"They have as much right as you do to park on the street," said authority interim solicitor Frank Garrigan. "If they are doing something like you described with the lunch box, then please inform Mr. Miller. If the vehicle is illegally on the streets, than contact the police."
'War with me'
Landlord Barry Getchey also addressed the board Thursday. Getchey, who has been involved in legal matters with the authority concerning federal housing funding and has been charged by state police with bribing Splane, distributed a written statement to the board and the press. The statement contained four bullet points chastising several board members.
"Ron Miller and Jerry Splane started their war with me and now they called in their card with the DA. Why doesn't he let us work it out between us instead of this goofy charge of bribery?" wrote Getchey. "What a joke. I feel like I'm fighting a tank battalion with a pea shooter."
Board members were seen reading the statement, but did not offer any comment during the meeting.
In other business
The board gave Miller permission to sign a 16-month contract with Garrigan, naming him the new solicitor for the Shamokin Housing Authority. Garrigan replaced James Rosini, who was killed in a car accident in Florida in February.
Miller reported that by the end of next week, crews will be halfway done with the installation of new windows at the Harold E. Thomas Highrise, and that the project to replace LP gas furnaces in units at the Raspberry Hill complex will begin Monday.
The board approved a motion to reduce the notice period for lease terminations for reasons other than non-payment of rent, felony crimes or violence from 30 to 15 days. The approval was unanimous with Splane, Wolfe, Joseph Rocuskie, James Picarelli and Pamala S. Rhoades voting for the reduction.