HARMAR: At least two Nixon Road home owners are holding out as Tollgrade Communications buys properties for expansion. 'They didn't give us a price,' said John Cristillo, 89. 'I'm going to see what the rest of the people are going to do. We're too old to move.' 'I don't feel I want to move out of here right now,' said Mary Leiberton, also of Nixon Road, who declined to give her age. 'This home suits me fine. I raised my family here and I'm not ready to go.' If residents decide not to sell, they would have a nonconforming zone in the industrial zone and Tollgrade would have to provide a buffer zone around those homes, said Bob Delaney, chairman of the planning commission. That option is OK with some of the residents, who don't want to move and said they wouldn't mind being next to the company's facilities. 'I don't care if they put a parking lot next to me,' Cristillo said. 'It's pretty hard for me to go into another territory and start all over again.' Leiberton said a buffer zone wouldn't bother her either. Having second thoughts At least two couples who sold their houses to Tollgrade are wondering if they should have held out longer to receive a higher price. 'We were satisfied when we signed, but when we looked at how much it costs to buy a comparable house it doesn't even come close,' said Andrew Frencik, 87, of Nixon Road. His wife, Angelina, blames herself for not holding out longer. 'It's not their fault,' said Angelina Frencik, 83. 'I think we were trying to be fair. We were among the first people to sign.' Tollgrade paid $150,000 for the Frencik's house or about $47,000 more than its market value of $103,000. But the Frencik's were surprised when they found out how much other properties sold for. 'We never knew until it came out in the paper,' said Angelina. 'It floored us, but there was nothing we could do about it.' Now the couple, who received an extension to stay in their home until the end of September, are looking for a first-floor house in the area, but the hunt has been tough. 'I'd like to live in the area,' Angelina said. 'I want to stay close, but it's not happening.' Tollgrade officials said move-out dates for residents were determined case by case. Ed and Ann Stack said they were fine with the $140,000 they received for their property at first, but were surprised that others received more. 'We're older than some of these couples,' Ann Stack, 75, said. 'We feel like we were duped.' Moving to Florida The Stacks' property was assessed at $92,900 market value. They plan to move to Florida this week where they will look forward to doing 'what retired people do,' namely some fishing, golfing and visiting with friends already in Florida. Their son bought the home for them. Ed said they planned to move to Florida in two years, but the buyout came at 'the right time.' 'We're getting away from here because we can't stand to be here anymore,' Ann said.
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