Locals angry over house for addicts

Recovery facility has its Brunswick Acres neighbors worried. Township agrees to increase police patrols in area.

By: Joseph Harvie
   Residents of Brunswick Acres who live near a home used for recovering addicts who have been through treatment programs have not been treated fairly and the township wants to help by increasing the police presence in the area, township officials said Monday.
   It was standing room only at the Brunswick Acres School library Monday, when 108 residents met to discuss Oxford House, located on Donald Avenue, with Mayor Frank Gambatese, South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka, Richard Christiansen of Oxford House, and members of the South Brunswick Police Department.
   Residents who spoke at the meeting did not have to give their names before voicing their concerns or asking questions. Chief Hayducka had to ask the crowd to remain quiet several times throughout the evening, as residents often spoke out of turn and shouted over each other. The residents complained that they and the township weren’t notified beforehand that the home, which has been open for two years, was operating there. They also said the house poses safety concerns and they complained about visitors to the house.
   In response to residents’ complaints, the township agreed to increase police patrols in the area, and said Patrol Officer Gene Rickle, who lives in the neighborhood, has been assigned to the area.
   Oxford House is a nonprofit organization that rents or purchases homes in residential neighborhoods and provides them to individuals who have undergone alcohol or narcotic treatment. Tenants must undergo treatment at a halfway house program before moving into an Oxford House.
   Only women live in the Oxford house that opened on Donald Avenue in September 2004. Its two-year lease is up in September 2006, said Mr. Christiansen.
   There are no counselors in Oxford Houses, but the residents meet weekly in their house, and monthly with residents of other Oxford Houses in the area, to discuss issues they are facing. There are 64 Oxford houses in New Jersey including ones in the South Brunswick portion of Kingston, Freehold and Brick.
   The Donald Avenue house can serve up to seven women, but currently only houses five, Mr. Christiansen said.
   Mr. Christiansen said the residents of the home have undergone treatment for drug and alcohol abuse at in-patient centers and at halfway houses before being placed in the Donald Avenue home. He said Oxford House also requires the women to work and be able to pay rent.
   Mr. Christiansen said the organization is set up to help residents of the house get back on their feet and prepare themselves for the "flow of regular life." He also said the residents of Oxford House are expected to be good neighbors.
   "We do not want to be a drain on the taxpayers," Mr. Christiansen said. "We want to give back to the community."
   Township officials and residents became aware of the Oxford House after the overdose death of tenant Melissa Kulikowski, 21, on Oct. 30 at the Donald Avenue house.
   Chief Hayducka said Tuesday that an investigation revealed that the woman had left the home, used heroine at a room at the La Mirage Motel on Route 1, then walked back to the Donald Avenue residence where she eventually died.
   Police also said that four weeks after Ms. Kulikowski’s death they were sent to the house again to assist with a first aid call.
   Leila, a resident of the house, who didn’t give her last name, said Monday that police and first aid were called to help remove a resident on Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. Women who are not sober are immediately removed from the home and no longer live there, Mr. Christiansen said.
   Neighbors who spoke Monday said they are concerned about the safety of the children living in the neighborhood, especially since the house is close to the Brunswick Acres School. They also were upset that they were not notified beforehand that the group would be moving to the location.
   They also said friends of the home’s tenants often speed down the road, stop at the house briefly, and then drive away. Neighbors also asked whether or not the women are allowed to have visitors.
   One Brunswick Acres resident said that he had walked down the street to see what was happening when police arrived on Nov. 27, he was confronted by a large man who claimed to be a friend of the tenants. The neighbor, a Donald Avenue resident, said he thought the confrontation with the man was about to become violent so he left.
   He said he was worried that similar situations could arise in the future.
   Other neighborhood residents said they too have had run-ins with the heavy-set man, all of which worried them. Mr. Christiansen said that the man they referred to is a resident of another Oxford House, but he did not say where.
   Neighbors said they feel unsafe because no one monitors what goes on inside the house and that there is no governmental agency that oversees the home. They also questioned the safety of putting several people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction into the same house unsupervised.
   Concerns were also raised over the condition of the house. Felice Puglia, whose home is adjacent to the Oxford House home, said she has made several complaints to the township about the deteriorating condition of the house for more than 20 years.
   She said she has had problems with the leaves not being raked and that there have been problems with the exterior, including sliding and exterior doors that are falling apart.
   Mayor Gambatese said a fire inspector and zoning official have been out to the house and there were no violations.
   Mr. Christiansen said residents will be talked to about the condition of the outside of the house. He said Brunswick Acres residents’ concerns over the conditions inside the home should be addressed because prior to moving in he worked on repainting the home to make it livable.
   "We’ve done nothing but improve the condition of the house," Mr. Christiansen said. "If the girls are lacking in yard maintenance we will fix that. Our goal is to not be an eyesore to the community. One of the things we want is to be the best house on the block."
   Oxford House does not have to inform its neighbors that a house is opening, he said. Mr. Christiansen said that the State of Washington took a case of prior notification to the U.S. Supreme Court and lost.
   Mayor Gambatese said Township Attorney Don Sears told him that Oxford House is not in violation of any township ordinances or state statutes.
   "I would have loved to have come here before the house opened to tell you about Oxford House," Mr. Christiansen said. "But the truth is all of you would have applauded the organization, said it was a good thing you are doing, but not in my town."
   Mr. Christiansen said there has only been two deaths at Oxford houses since the organization expanded into New Jersey 10 years ago, and that includes the Oct. 30 death in South Brunswick. He also said no residents have been charged with a felony during the time period.
   Chief Hayducka said the department increased patrols near the area when they learned of the home. He also assigned Officer Rickle to the area because he lives in the neighborhood and is familiar with the residents.
   Officer Rickle assured residents that he drives past the Oxford House four times a day when he is on the job, on the way to and from work and on the way to and from lunch.
   Officer Rickle took action immediately at the meeting and set up a neighborhood watch for Brunswick Acres.
   "We are going to keep an eye on each other," Officer Rickle said.
   Councilman Charles Carley said that the Township Council is going to look at what can be done to address other concerns of Brunswick Acres residents.
   "You deserve better than what you’ve gotten," Mr. Carley said.