Hudson Reporter Archive

Local ‘animal houses’ should beware

An “animal house” isn’t just a reference to the movie that centered around a college fraternity house whose residents partied constantly, but a problem that many New Jersey municipalities face on a day to day basis.
State Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco, along with State Sen. Shirley K. Turner, recently sponsored a bill to apply New Jersey’s “Animal House” law – which currently is only applied to Jersey Shore communities – to the rest of the state.
Sacco and Turner’s bill, which received final legislative approval on Dec. 10, is now awaiting Gov. Jon Corzine’s approval. Sacco said that he hopes it is signed into law before the Senate starts a new session next year.

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“When this becomes law, absentee landlords in North Bergen better beware.” – Nicholas Sacco
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If approved, the bill will allow municipal governing bodies statewide to adopt ordinances requiring landlords or properties where tenants have repeatedly been “convicted of disorderly, indecent, tumultuous or riotous conduct” to post a bond or other security to compensate the town for law enforcement and prosecution expenses.
“It becomes a very big financial burden to keep answering the calls of people who are constantly, constantly disturbing the neighborhood,” said Sacco.
Under an amendment to the bill adopted by the Assembly, any municipality that adopts the “Animal House” ordinance will be required to give notice to a landlord of a tenant’s first conviction for a disorderly persons charge. This same amendment will also allow the landlord to pass on the costs of the bond to the tenant.
Sacco said that this will allow a “landlord [to] fight with his own tenant.”

Aiding college towns

Sacco said that on college campuses across the state, many students were truly being studious, but unfortunately, even the “best” higher education institutions have individual students who cause problems for the community.
“Many of these students become nuisance renters in communities around their college, and municipal officials need tools to help mitigate their negative impact on the neighborhood,” said Sacco.
Sacco said he believes the bond would cost around $5,000.
He said many of the property owners are not around to witness their tenants’ unruliness and unfortunately are sometimes only concerned with the money they are making through the rent.

Not just college

According to the New Jersey Senate Democrats’ press release, the bill was spurred by towns’ complaints about college renters regarding late-night parties, noise, and trash, as well as an excessive number of parked cars and absentee landlords.
The problem has also started to grow in many urban areas.
Sacco said that the legislation is aimed at irresponsible members of any community.
“It applies to everyone,” he said. “It’s a benefit that the shore towns have had, but it will extend throughout the state.”
He said that he could think of a few properties in North Bergen that would fit under the ordinance if it is approved.
“There are certain places in town where we face the problem,” said Sacco. “When this becomes law, absentee landlords in North Bergen better beware.”
Sacco said that he can understand a person “throwing a party,” but that it is a different case when the police are constantly receiving noise complaints and when neighbors are bothered constantly.
Sacco said that in certain cases, these situations are the reason people will move out of a community.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.

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