Frustrations Boil as Nursing Facility Testimony Continues

Frustrations came to a head Thursday night as a disorderly resident was asked to leave or be removed by police during a meeting to hear the application for a proposed skilled nursing facility.

Resident Dennis Junguzza approached the microphone in hopes of asking a question of sound expert Matthew Murello, president of Lewis S. Goodfriend and Associates, Consulting Engineers in Acoustics. But Harvey York, the attorney representing Manchester Rehab Realty, objected that Junguzza's inquiry was outside of the scope of the testimony the expert just gave. 

"This is the problem here," Junguzza said when board attorney Christopher Reid told him the question was improper. Junguzza then went on to call York "a jack in the box" and was asked by Reid to leave the meeting at Manchester Township High School. 

"It's not going to be tolerated," Reid said. "I'm going to explain to you, we'll get an officer to make you leave."

Junguzza called the zoning variance proceedings for the proposed 3086 Ridgeway Rd. facility "insane" and a "disgrace" before leaving. He mumbled under his breath as he walked past York. 

Outbursts from residents often have been a problem and Reid on numerous occasions has requested that those in the audience follow procedures so that the application, which was introduced in June of 2011, can be promptly heard.

"We're trying to conduct this in a professional manner," he said. "Any clapping or laughing is encouraging [Junguzza] to do that. You want to all come up and do that, we'll be here all night long. We'll be here month after month."

Reid again reminded residents that they are in attendance because they care about the proposed facility and its potential impact on the community.

"If it's so funny, none of you would still be here," he said. "You're here for a serious matter."

Murello had returned before the board to offer additional testimony. Though another report was requested following his , York said that there was no need for it.

"There were two questions that were asked," he said. "We're going to answer those questions."

Murello testified that he performed the additional testing requested by the board should the height of the proposed 6 foot tall wall along the rear of the property be raised. If the wall were increased 6 feet in height, the sound would be reduced about 2 dBA, he said.

That would reduce the nighttime sound level at the facility from 48 to 46 dBA. In either scenario, sound produced at the facility would remain under the required 50 dBA nighttime level required by the state and township.

A report testing sound levels across Route 571 was requested by engineer Bob Mullin, to which the applicant agreed. 

Site planner Tiffany Cuviello testified to the negative criteria that granting a variance would create. She said that concessions were made to lessen the impact to the area, such as reducing the number of beds from 260 to 180, moving the Shorin Way setback from 84 and a half feet to 100 feet, and redesigning portions of the site to better accommodate trucks and lessen noise.

The property is approved for single family housing, churches, public and private schools, government buildings and first aid and fire houses, Cuviello said. 

"You have to compare [the proposed nursing facility] to what could be built, not just single family development," Cuviello said, adding that she believes the buffering proposed by the applicant makes the facility better for the area than the other types of acceptable uses which would not be required to make such provisions. 

Lisa John, attorney for the Manchester Neighbors group which opposes the application, asked whether the facility would have more of an impact on surrounding properties than the other types of uses.

"I can say for certain that there will not be a significant negative impact on those properties compared to other uses permitted," Cuviello said. 

At the request of Chairperson Linda Fazio, Cuviello agreed that deliveries to the proposed facility could be made between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays, rather than the 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. timeframe that is permitted by township ordinance. 

Though the meeting started off with about 300 residents in attendance, by the end about 50 residents remained in the audience. The board will again hear the application during its next regular meeting on May 24, 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.