SOUTH RIVER — Some landlords say they’re getting stuck by their former tenants, and they’re complaining to local officials.
Thomas Street property owners Eugene and Harriet Sojka said they should not have to pay an electric bill left by a former tenant.
The couple said that the tenant — who moved out of their home in December — should pay the remaining bill.
According to the Sojkas, in April they received a $200 electric bill for the former tenant. After notifying the town, the Sojkas claimed, they were informed that they would have to pay the bill left by the tenant or the electricity would be shut off.
At a Borough Council meeting last Wednesday, Eugene Sojka questioned the council about why he was not informed by the electric company that the former tenant owed a bill until five months later.
Sojka was not alone in his complaints.
Resident and property owner John Scala said he too was stuck with a $542 bill from a former tenant who moved out of one of his apartments late last year.
According to Scala, the same tenant then moved to another apartment in the borough and used an alias to turn on his electric utility with no problem.
Scala blames much of the delay in billing on the consulting firm of AUS.
The council hired AUS Consultants in April 1999 to take over electricity and utility billing in the borough. Since that time, numerous residents have come before the council complaining about delayed bills and customer-service problems.
Mayor Robert Szegeti has requested that Business Administrator Charles Kolakowski report on delinquent bills in the borough.
The council already has a measure in place to try to keep a record of tenants in the borough.
In April, the council passed a measure requiring that landlords keep information on tenants — including their names, forwarding addresses and driver’s license numbers — in their files for at least a year after the tenant has moved.
If the landlord does not comply, the landlord can be hit with a $100 to $200 fine, or 90 days in jail.

