Woodbridge cracks down on illegal occupancy, other violations

By JESSICA D’AMICO
Staff Writer

A recent fine levied on a Woodbridge property owner is driving home the point that township officials will not stand for violations of municipal qualityof life ordinances, according to Mayor John McCormac.

“Illegal and overcrowded housing, property maintenance violations and violations of the township advertising sign ordinances are the most significant issues that impact quality of life for township residents,” McCormac said.

An illegal multi-family residence was the most recent infraction targeted by township Code Enforcement Task Force inspectors.

Luis Contreras, owner of a home at 164 Metuchen Ave., received a $5,000 fine for renting out rooms in the basement and second floor of the residence for $465 per month after township inspectors responded to a complaint there, officials said.

When the Bureau of Housing & Inspections visited the property on July 8 to inspect it, officials determined that at least two renters inhabited the home. Further inspection revealed evidence of single-room occupancy in the residence, as opposed to traditional single-family occupancy, officials said.

Inspectors issued Contreras multiple violations for alleged illegal multi-family use of the home, as well as nonpermitted use of a residential property. On July 31, Conteras appeared in Woodbridge Township Municipal Court and pled guilty to a charge of operating a nonpermitted illegal multi-family residential property. The judge imposed the $5,000 fine and ordered the property owner to correct the illegal conditions and submit to reinspection.

As part of the removal of the illegal tenants from the home, the township was responsible for helping one of them to relocate, according to officials.

“This is the first time we’ve had to do that,” McCormac said.

It was not, however, officials’ first go- ’round with cracking down on illegal multifamily dwellings.

“Back in 2007 when we first took office, that’s what we did,” the mayor said, adding that such residences were especially prevalent near the train station at the time. “We did a full-court press; we were charging people left and right.”

Officials have not let up on enforcement. McCormac noted that 51 violation notices were issued to property owners in the first six months of 2015 for operating illegal boarding homes or multi-family dwellings. In 2014, 72 such summonses were issued.

Fines for such violations are at the discretion of the municipal court judge, Mc- Cormac said.

Among fines levied this year were $1,000 each for illegal multi-family dwellings at 29 Apollo Ave., Avenel, and 40 Loretta St., Hopelawn; a $1,500 fine against the owner of an illegal rooming/boarding home located at 1594 Oak Tree Rd., Iselin; a $2,000 fine against each of two owners for operating an illegal rooming/boarding home located at 65 Cutters Dock Rd., Woodbridge; a $7,500 fine against the owner of an illegal multi-family boarding home at 55 Magnolia Road, Iselin; and a $10,000 fine against the owner of an illegal multi-family boarding house/apartment at 533 Route 27, Iselin.

All those charged are required to pay court costs along with their fines.

McCormac said excessive amounts of garbage accumulating at a residence could serve as evidence of illegal occupancy of a home.

“You can tell — if it looks like they need a second or third [garbage] can, that’s a giveaway,” he said.

Other tip-offs to illegal occupancy are an inordinate number of vehicles at a home or an unusual amount of comings and goings by multiple residents, McCormac said.

And while inspectors stay on the lookout for such instances, McCormac said the majority of cases are brought to officials’ attention via complaints from neighbors.

“The residents are still our eyes and ears,” he said. “We can still look for things like this, but no one knows the neighborhood like the neighbors.”

Another recent quality-of-life violation related to the illegal posting of advertising signs. Celik Musa of Matawan received a summons on July 22 charging him with illegally posting signs for a residential power-washing business after the Code Enforcement Task Force found a number of signs for the business on telephone poles, traffic signs and along highway rights of way.

Musa received a $500 fine in court on July 31.

“They’re annoying,” McCormac said of illegal signs throughout the township. “If it’s a lost dog, it’s fine, but people shouldn’t be advertising their businesses on telephone poles.”

The mayor added that many offenders place their signs after business hours on Fridays, thinking that they can thereby skirt enforcement. Wise to that tactic, inspectors check township streets every Saturday, Mc- Cormac said.

“They make the town look ugly,” he said of the signs, adding, “I take down the signs myself, or I call them in right away.”

Other issues being targeted in town are accumulating trash and debris, and building code violations, McCormac said. As of June, 240 violation notices had been issued for trash, debris and related property violations in 2015. Last year, the township issued 451 such notices, according to the mayor.

Officials are asking residents to report any quality-of-life violations that negatively impact neighborhoods to the Bureau of Housing at 732-634-4500, ext. 6009. All complaints will be investigated, and all information will remain confidential.