Residents of Pinnacle Towers in Wellsboro met with administration and staff of the Tioga County Housing and Redevelopment Authority over concerns regarding air quality in their public housing apartment building on March 22.
One resident, Ed, voiced concern that speaking up will lead to rent increases, eviction or retaliation from fellow residents.
Sean Sember, executive director of the Tioga County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, assured the crowd of almost 20 residents that they should not fear retaliation or rent increases.
Rent charged at Pinnacle Towers, a state-funded housing complex, is determined by a resident’s income and health status.
Air quality in the building was addressed by resident Cindy Copp, who reported that she submitted work orders in November 2021 and has “gotten no response.”
Copp claimed that internal exhaust is going out through the vents and then coming back into the building. She asked for additional indoor air quality testing.
The Housing panel explained that there are fans in the bathrooms and kitchens in each apartment and air that contains contaminants such as food odors is filtered outside. Pinnacle Towers’ elevators have vents to bring fresh air brought in and it is distributed via the hallways and doorways to the apartments. That air is then filtered out through the vents in individual apartments.
Maintenance supervisor Chris Grant responded.
“The boiler, which feeds the baseboard heat, was installed in 2017,” Grant said.
“The ventilation system was installed six years ago and has six exhaust fans and it facilitates fresh air intake. Over the last two years there have been numerous inspections, which include plumbing. There were two indoor air quality tests on the common areas as well.”
Two outside HVAC companies and two other contracted private entities have been conducting routine testing at Pinnacle Towers.
Some residents reported smelling burning odors in the hallways and were concerned that air quality was suffering and that residents with allergies, sinus infections and other ailments were being affected.
“We have all the necessary smoke, heat and carbon dioxide alarms installed,” Grant reported.
The Housing Authority conducted all appropriate tests in 2020 and 2021. “We do more than we need to,” said Grant.
Brian Burket, the authority’s public housing program manager, said that thin walls, shared living spaces and close quarters can lead to unpleasant smells and concerns, but noted “it’s all part of the territory when it comes to living in close quarters.”
Copp mentioned that vent-generated backdrafts are polluting her residence and stated that her vent does not operate from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. She requires it to be running continuously due to personal health issues.
Grant replied that the time-delay is a HUD energy-saving measure and regulation and that it cannot be adjusted.
Residents expressed appreciation for the Housing Authority. “I just thank you for coming out and listening to us,” said a resident named Rose. “People were so concerned.”
Sember stressed that any concern should be reported to Lisa Lingle, property manager, who is onsite at Pinnacle Towers. He also agreed to share future air quality reports with residents and urged any concerned residents to contact any Housing Authority employee directly.
“Please report anything,” Sember stressed. “We want everyone to be safe, and we want to hear any concerns.”
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Originally Appeared Here