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Politics & Government

Borough Official: Heights of Collingswood Used Undocumented Workers

A Collingswood official confirms employees of the ex-property manager lacked sufficient work papers. In the time since their layoffs, environmental conditions have worsened, residents say.

Concerns about living conditions at the apartments were complicated by the layoff of a cleaning crew that did not have sufficient work documentation, a borough official confirmed today.

Collingswood Zoning, Code Enforcement and Health Officer Mary Ellen Ries said the employees in question had been hired by the previous property management company, Audubon Communities Management, and not Greystar, the current manager.

"There were porters and staff that did not have the proper documentation for immigration, and therefore had to be let go," Ries said. "In this occurring, there were some serious trash disposal issues and property maintenance issues that the borough has been dealing with with the property."

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Greystar property managers declined to comment for this story. As recently as March 5, the company was advertising on Craigslist for groundskeepers and apartment leasing professionals at the Heights of Collingswood facility.

Ries also addressed the issue of tenant complaints that elevators in the buildings are not functioning properly.

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"It appears some major parts are needed to repair some of the elevators, and they’re on order," she said. "The repairs will be done as soon as the parts are received."

Ries, who performs a property inspection at every tenant change at the Heights of Collingswood, said she has been in three different buildings on the property in the past week, and things seem to be on the mend. She inspected six apartments at the Heights of Collingswood just in the last 24 hours, and all passed.

"Although there were some serious issues, frankly, there’s been a great improvement at the property since the original complaints were received," she said.

Throughout the borough, the condition of rental properties remains a concern. A scheduled for earlier this month was cancelled to give building owners a chance to get up to code.

Ries said that although there is no schedule for completion of these projects at present, the borough "has a very explicit rental ordinance" by which all properties, tenants, and renters are bound.

"We’re working to make sure that these buildings improve and that the standards of property maintenance and rental compliance are made," she said. "I don’t know that you can put a timetable on that."

Ries encouraged renters throughout the borough to contact her office or the fire department if they suspect there are any building code issues at their properties.

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