Mounting tenant concerns about weather-related problems and communication with officials at the Agawam Village housing complex had State Senator Marc Pacheco meeting with residents on Friday, October 21.

Led by Agawam Village resident Henry Fernandes, the tenants say they have been complaining for months about icy parking lots in the winter, the lack of an emergency generator, and the failure of local officials to address their problems.

The matter came to a head when, in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, the 40-unit subsidized housing complex for elderly and handicapped individuals was without power for three days.

Tenants "were sitting between the devil and the deep blue sea," Fernandes said, adding that one resident who needed power for a medical device had to go to Tobey Hospital.

The state senator was asked to help because Agawam Village is overseen by the elected Wareham Housing Authority, Executive Director Pamela Sequiera, and the state Department of Housing and Community Development.

After the meeting, from which the media was excluded, Pacheco said he was "better informed."

"There were a number of issues that [residents] had concerns with in terms of communications. ... And then there are two issues ... that were a challenge," Pacheco said – referring to the ice and generator complaints. About 15 tenants attended the meeting.

The residents' concerns were included on a petition signed by 11 tenants, sent to the state Department of Housing and Community Development earlier this fall.

Fernandes said he felt as though residents' concerns were falling on deaf ears.

"I'm just a tenant, and I'm looking out for the interests of all the other tenants," he said.

Fernandes has expressed frustration with the communication process among all of the parties.

"What happens right now is if I have a complaint, I have to wait one month [for the Housing Authority's next meeting] until they'll hear the complaint," he said.

Fernandes noted that recent renovations on the apartments has created another concern among residents: the removal of a "buddy system" emergency alarm that residents can pull to alert their neighbors if they have fallen or otherwise need help. But he has not had a chance to address that problem with the Housing Authority.

Housing Authority member Patricia Harju Zimmer said the authority is "trying to address the situation," noting that Fernandes attended the authority's September meeting and "we did address [the concerns raised in the petition] with him."

Mary-Leah Assad, communications specialist for the Department of Housing and Community Development, said in an e-mail that the department is "satisfied that the Wareham Housing Authority has appropriately responded to all resident concerns."

But Fernandes said he was not satisfied and asked Pacheco to meet with residents.

During Tropical Storm Irene in August, the development was without power for nearly three days, Fernandes said. He and residents are asking the state to purchase a generator for the development's community hall.

As for the icy parking lots and roadways, Fernandes said at least two people slipped, fell, and hurt themselves last winter. He is looking for a solution to that issue before the winter season begins.

Fernandes said he personally asked the town for help with the problem last winter and it did sand the area once.

According to Assad, a "town ordinance" requires "a salt mixture for the treatment of ice and snow covered roads." She said "the town will treat the roads at no cost to the [Wareham Housing] Authority."

Pacheco said he would work with the executive director on both issues and would contact Town Administrator Mark Andrews to discuss the ice problem.

The senator noted that he did not know what the cost of a generator would be or "where those resources would come from," but that it "seemed to be a reasonable request."

Fernandes said he's researched generators for the community hall and priced units at local hardware stores.

"I believe they can put a 9,000 watt [generator] here for less than $7,000," he said. "If the state does not help us put the generator in there, we're going to look for some rich man to help us."

Assad wrote that in weather emergencies, residents are registered with the town's reverse-911 system and are contacted regarding their well-being and that transportation is provided to "bring residents to an alternative location."

Fernandes pointed out, however, that many residents have Comcast telephone lines that require electricity to work and no cell phones, making it difficult to communicate during emergencies.

He said, to his knowledge, transportation was not provided during Irene.

Fernandes said he was not completely satisfied with the outcome of the meeting and said he still fears that the concerns are not being taken seriously.

Neither Agawam Village Executive Director Pamela Sequiera nor Town Administrator Mark Andrews responded to requests for comment.