European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 09, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday february 1994 the stars and stripes Page 3 poor conditions Lead to family moves by sue Palumbo Mediterranean Bureau Naples Italy the controversy Over the Quality of government leased housing at pin Tamare is by no Means re solved but the Navy has moved some people out of apartments deemed sub Standard a senior official said. About six families already have been moved with a dozen More expected to be relocated in the coming months said capt. William Vivian commanding offi cer of naval support activity Naples. The Navy rents about 400 apartments in pin Tamare a once affluent Beach Community located about 18 Miles North of Naples. Many of the units Are in High Rise buildings called the towers while others Are scattered throughout neighbouring Marcos. A Parco is a collection of houses or apartments similar to a housing development owned by one landlord. We look at All the requests to move on an individual basis look at the merits of the request and try to make the right decision Vivian said. But none of the moves in the towers have been because the apartments were  the Navy s actions followed months of complaints and lobbying by housing Resi dents. Many wrote to lawmakers saying they Are forced to endure unsanitary Liv ing conditions dangerous construction faulty electrical wiring and Complete Lack of personal  the family of Francis Potchak a Navy chief Petty officer was moved out after electrical wiring in the Wall caught on fire and a 10-foot Section of another Wall would move just by leaning on it. We be been pushing for six months to move out Potchak said. Residents also complained of falling masonry and Concrete malfunctioning elevators and pest infestation caused by in adequate garbage dumpsters. Most of the problems Potchak and others complain of did not happen Over night but festered for years one resident said his complaints Ping paged for months Between housing officials and the landlords. Dual ownership of the units adds to the confusion. One landlord May agree to a condition while the other May not. Is Gary Malloc pin Tamare housing near Naples includes units in some High Rise towers As Well As units scattered throughout neighbouring complexes. Many of the apartments Are rented separately or in groups rather than As an entire Tower unit. Some of the apartments Are rented by italian nationals. Vivian blames a Lack of communication Between residents the Navy and the landlords As the reason for much of the confusion. He said that until a recent inspection by an engineering group from the states there was no Clear definition of responsibilities. Inspectors looked at every apartment to determine what repairs were needed and who needed to make them. The Navy is supposed to take care of superficial re pairs such As Leaky faucets whereas the More extensive structural repairs should be made by the landlord he said. Some of the apartments in Parco Sera Cino needed such extensive repairs that the Navy did not renew the lease. The dozen families slated to move Are in that Parco Vivian said. He stressed that none of the apartments  been condemned but that officials were moving toward vacating the Parco completely some time in the future. That s not to say the decision can t be reversed if the repairs Are made Vivian said. Over the last few months several actions have been taken to improve living conditions Vivian said. New dumpsters were added to replace the smaller uncovered ones that attracted local sewer rats. Vivian regularly attends monthly meetings of housing residents and has added a Rumor control hot line so Resi dents can air their grievances. Base officials also meet regularly with the landlords and Monitor Progress of re pairs. Civilian Security guards Are making hourly Tours of the area to deter theft and vandalism. In addition to a mini Mart medical and dental clinic laundromat video rental facility and child care Center already within walking distance a head Start facility a teen Center and a pizza shop were added. Even if this door fell completely Down i would t move from Here said Brenda Davis a resident of one of the towers. The panelling to the door Frame of the Davis front door has fallen completely off. Large chunks of Concrete have fallen off a 6-Inch-wide Section along the entire left Side of the door. It s not Worth it to have them come out and fix it she said. They be fixed it twice and All they workers do is make a big mess. But i Don t want to move either. Everything i need is right  re up swears in 14 gis at a is Jon Connor sgt Arthur Yearwood foreground poses on a howitzer with 13 other soldiers from 2nd in 29th Field arty who re enlisted in a single ceremony at Baum older. By Jon Connor staff writer Baum older Germany re enlistment is typically a Low key  when 14 soldiers raise their hands at the same time the Ordinary becomes extraordinary. This was spectacular. It blew my mind said sgt. Tim Hebbard one of the 14 soldiers from the 2nd in 29thfield arty who re upped in unison last week before about 100 family members friends Community officials and top brass of the 1st army div in a ceremony at . Smith Barracks. Hebbard s wife Tammie agreed. The ceremony shows How invaluable they the soldiers Are to the unit she said. Hebbard a nine year Veteran who works As an artillery Mechanic aspires to be a Drill sergeant. This july his unit will be leaving Baum older for tort Lewis wash., As part of the draw Down in Europe. Those re enlisting for the first time however get the option of choosing their next assignment. For spec. Mario Estrada Ochoa that Means going to fort Hood in his native Texas with a Bonus of almost $2,500. Still he has some reservations. It s going to be a big disappointment when i Oback to the states he said explaining that he has gotten a Little Rusty in his specially As a Cannon Crew member because his Job in Germany has been distributing fuel supplies within the battalion. But As for being in the army it s something i like to do Estrada Ochoa said. To me there were no cons to re enlisting. Sgt. Tommy Carson the battalion re enlistment no and the person responsible for the mass re enlistment said he  never processed More than five soldiers atone time. He s proud of the accomplishment. Too Many soldiers got out he said which has made it hard for recruiters to meet their quotas. As a result re enlisting is the hottest Issue in Europe he said. Those signing on for another tour were spec. Jack Donaldson spec. Keith Hicks  Hodo spec. Andrew Johnson sgt. Donald Watts sgt. Arthur Yearwood sgt. Paul Carrier spec. Kevon Condon sgt. Samuel Peterson spec. Steven Ellsworth spec. Samuel Woodberry spec. James Cherry Estrada Ochoa and Hebbard