Property Maintenance Ordinance on Clark Council's Monday Agenda

Clark will vote Monday night on an ordinance to crack down on property owners who don't maintain the outside of their properties, imposing a fine of up to $500 on any resident and $1,000 on any business owner in violation. 

Township ordinance currently requires that property owners "maintain such premises where the same are exposed to public view, together with the landscaping contained thereon, in an orderly state, with lawns and bushes trimmed and free from becoming overgrown, littered and unsightly, where such would constitute a blighting effect, depreciating adjoining and nearby property."

"The mayor and council are annoyed at the maintenance on number of properties, both commercial and residential," explained Business Administrator John Laezza at the meeting where the ordinance was introduced last month. "The town is starting to look a little shabby."

The new ordinance will allow the town's code enforcers to issue summonses quickly in the event of a violation. The new ordinance states that for the first violation the property owner will receive a notice and be given five days to correct the violation (previously the law allowed 10 days). After five days, a summons will be issued. For any subsequent violations, the town will not have to provide notice and can issue a summons immediately. 

The penalties for violations are set as follows: Residents will be issued a warning for the first violation, a fine of $250 for the second violation, and a fine of $500 for subsequent violations. Commercial property owners will be issued of fine of $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for any subsequent violations. 

Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso said he "lost it" after seeing a local business that continues to violate the town ordinance on property maintenance.

"I know we've had a lot of rain and it can be hard to keep up with it, and we are not trying to hurt the homeowner whose machine breaks down and then it rains or whatever," said Bonaccorso at the meeting where the ordinance was introduced last month. "We understand that and we will work with you. But there are a few residents and businesses who just cut their lawns two times a year when we come chasing. That's not nice to do to your neighbors. We’re going to come after you, because it's the same people every year and we’re tired of that."

Bonaccorso specifically mentioned Westfield Avenue when talking about businesses in violation.  

"Some businesses there think they can go about their business daily and not worry about the outside of the business," said Bonaccorso. "I commend the people who do care and do keep it up, and I thank you for that. For the others, it’s a mess and it’s a shame and it's an eyesore."

The mayor added that Clark goes above and beyond to take care of maintenance on town properties.  

"If you even take a look throughout the town at our concrete dividers, even the ones on county roads and Raritan Road, we have the DPW crew go out take out weeds, spray them with Roundup," said Bonaccorso. "To me, that stuff makes the town look like a slum."