Resident takes issue with
mayor on home repair case
MANALAPAN — A resident who is pursuing repairs to his home took issue last week with a township official’s comment about who was in charge of the municipal construction department when certificates of occupancy for his home and others in his development were issued.
Stephen Peterson, a resident of the Manalapan Chase development off Craig Road, responded to a statement made by Mayor Rebecca Aaronson in an Oct. 23 News Transcript story.
For several years, Peterson and other homeowners in the development have been seeking redress from the developer, Calton Homes, for defects in their homes.
In the story, the mayor was quoted as saying, "It’s important to note that the current head of the construction department (Rich Hogan) was not the head of that department when that development’s certificates of occupancy (CO) were issued."
But Peterson said Hogan became head of the construction department in the fall of 1996 and continues in that position today. He said that of 52 houses at Manalapan Chase, Hogan signed the COs for 35 homes. The other 17 COs were signed by William Nickel, the previous construction official. The homeowner provided documentation backing up those figures.
Peterson also took exception to comments made by Aaronson and Committeeman William Scherer about the Township Committee’s involvement in addressing the situation at Manalapan Chase. He said the township is not exercising its authority to ensure that all of the code violations in the affected homes are being repaired.
In response, Aaronson said Hogan was named the acting head of the construction department in December 1996 and was still the acting head of the department in January 1997. Later in 1997 he was named the head of the department.
Regardless of his actual title, Aaronson said, is the fact that "all his signature on the CO meant was that the paperwork for the people who actually did the inspections was in order."
And more important, the mayor said, was that once it was discovered that violations in the development were widespread, Hogan, in conjunction with the state Department of Community Affairs, initiated a repair program.
"We have bent over backward for the Petersons," the mayor said. "We have done everything they have asked. Those homeowners who have cooperated with the agencies involved are done (with the home repairs) or in varying stages of completion."
Aaronson and Scherer, two Democrats, are running for re-election to the Township Committee on Nov. 5. They are being challenged by Republicans Tom Toto and Anthony Musich.
— Mark Rosman