MANCHESTER – In preparation for the upcoming sale, Surf and Stream Campground owners want all personal property removed from their land by May 23, 2022.
However, it’s the underlying message of the directive that warrants particular concern. The short notice leaves more than 100 people scrambling for a place to live.
Barry Bielat, Managing Member and spokesperson for the campgrounds said he arranged for personal hand-delivery of the notices to those on site. He also emailed notices and is in the process of informing other “campers” of the date of the shutdown by regular mail.
Bielat maintains there are no permanent residents of the campgrounds as Surf and Stream’s rules say the premises are intended for recreational purposes. According to the campground spokesperson, no one is allowed to live there full time.
“There are seasonal, monthly, weekly, and daily campers who pay site fees based on their stays,” said Bielat. “A campground is very similar to a hotel by nature; instead of paying a room fee for one’s stay, campers pay a site fee.”
Marie Cicalo, who worked as the campground’s assistant manager, said the owners fired her on the same day they hand-delivered notices on site. She watched as someone filmed the delivery of notices and asked anyone who answered their doors to sign for them.
“I think they were worried I would print out statements for people who live here,” Cicalo shared. “There has been some shady stuff going on here as far as money.”
The notification sent by Bielat alerted campers that a lien could be placed on their RV/trailers or other personal property for outstanding charges. Cicalo said she has personal knowledge that not everyone’s accounts have been accurately credited.
Cicalo, her husband and adult son, began living on the campgrounds full-time eight years after moving from a big house in Levittown, Pennsylvania. They transitioned from a small camper and recently upgraded to a 2019 42’ Forest Glen model and considered buying a campground when they retired.
Like many of her neighbors, Cicalo said she’s having a hard time finding a place to relocate – especially on such short notice.
Dozens of people huddled into Cicalo’s home recently to discuss what amounts to their displacement. While acknowledging the owners have the right to sell their property, the overall feeling was one of frustration, fear, and fury. Tears spoke louder than words in some cases.
Many came with stories of personal struggles that led them to move into the campground community in the first place.
Tamara Smolinski pulled her license from her wallet to show that it bears the Ridgeway Road address of the campgrounds. She’s lived at Surf and Stream for twelve years and said her unit is one that can’t be moved to another location.
“I’m 56 years old,” said Smolinski. “I work seven days a week in a nursing home taking care of people’s mothers and fathers who have dementia.”
Smolinski said that she works as hard as she does despite the fact that she has a brain tumor. After she recovered from one surgery, Smolinski learned she had thyroid cancer.
“Every penny I’ve made has gone into my medications to keep me alive,” shared Smolinski
She tried to hold back her emotions as she admitted she has no family and has no idea where she’ll find a place to live. And – it isn’t for lack of filling out housing applications.
Many of those forced to leave their homes work multiple jobs. Other have limited incomes and are barely making it on disability benefits.
James Ackerman considered himself lucky that a liver transplant gave him an extension on life. He and his wife have no idea where they’ll find a place to live that’s not a lot more than the $675 monthly site fees.
A year ago, Darrell Medina thought he’d found the perfect place to live as it was the only one he could afford as a result of his disability. Medina survived a brain aneurysm with residual effects. He now needs a hip replacement and plans to put it off until he finds a place to live.
Others admitted they’d lost their prior homes to foreclosure because of a bad divorce or illness causing them to stop work.
More than one person said they’d lived in their cars before they landed at Surf and Stream. They’re worried their lives will go backwards to an abysmal place of homelessness.
Families with children fear their kids will also lose out on their education. According to the residents, Manchester Schools sends in buses to pick up students.
Bielat says that to the owners’ knowledge, with the exception of summer, there are no school age kids staying at the campground. His former assistant manager says he’s wrong.
While it might seem easy enough to move campers or other recreational vehicles, the problem is finding a place to relocate them. Not one resident has found a campground that will allow them to hook up somewhere different.
Annette Diaz bought one of the Park Models when she needed to relocate from a big house after a bad divorce and was left with financial difficulties. She said her home can’t be moved.
“All Park Models are recreational vehicles built on a single chassis and mounted wheels,” disputed Bielat. “Some campers have built decks that probably cannot be moved.”
Bielat said that management will assist all who are current in their payment of site fees, utilities, and other applicable charges to relocate. Residents gathered at this recent meeting did not share any offers with a reporter.
Terrance Turnbach, a Toms River attorney and homeless advocate said he met with some of the displaced residents to discuss their issues.
“This property contains 102 year-round sites with 160 year-round occupants, 20 of whom are children,” said Turnbach. “The idea that the property owners think they can give the residents 30-60 days to relocate their entire lives will be challenged in court.”
“I am confident that when the County Commissioners are given the real information on how many residents live there year-round, that they too will agree 30-60 days is completely unrealistic in this post-pandemic market,” Turnbach continued.
Bielat said he has not received any monies yet from the sale of the property. The Ocean County Commissioners have offered $7.4 million to turn the land into open space. Manchester Township will be contributing $1.5 million for the purchase.
