Borough Seeks to Revoke Licenses of Three Rental Properties

At this month's commission meeting, Mayor James Maley announced the borough will host a special meeting on Feb. 1, aimed at revoking rental licenses from three property owners.

According to reports, two of the properties—198 and 136 White Horse Pike—are located in the Princess Anne apartment complex, which sits at the intersection of Dwight Ave. and the White Horse Pike.

Maley said the owner of these properties, Bruno DeThomasi, of Vineland, recently passed away.

The other property, located at 1025 Collings Ave., is owned by Frida Godlin, LLC, of Lakewood.

Revocations are being sought as a result of the following violations. Violations listed here are among a larger list attributed to each property.

198 White Horse Pike, Princess Anne Apartments—

Complaint cites violations and convictions under New Jersey State Housing Code (NJSHC), and under Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) International, Inc. Maintenance Code. Various inspections between May 14, 2009 and March 15, 2011 resulted in the following violations:

• Apt. 8-B—Grease on kitchen stoves (BOCA Violation)
• Apt. 7-B—Bathroom tub mold (BOCA Violation)
• Apt. 8-B—Cable wires tacked to floor (BOCA Violation)
• Apt. 4-B—Bedroom cable wires through window (BOCA Violation)
• Apt. 3-A—Cable wires to bedrooms across floor and through window (BOCA Violation)
• Apt. 7-A—Bedroom missing electrical globe (BOCA Violation)
• Apt. 5-A—Bathroom Window does not open (BOCA Violation)
• Apt. 9-A—Bathroom outlet loose (BOCA Violation)
• Apt. B-12—Violation of providing professional documentation for bedbug removal (BOCA Violation)
• Third Floor—Broken screens (BOCA Violation)
• First Floor—Left side air conditioning unit violation (BOCA Violation)
• Failure to provide access for inspection (NJSHC Violation)
• Laundry room and stairways emergency egress lighting violation (NJSHC Violation)
• Portable fire extinguisher installation and maintenance (NJSHC Violation)
• Failure to provide inspection access to all apartments (NJSHC Violation)
• Apt. 10—Extension and flexible cords used as substitute for permanent wiring (NJSHC Violation)

136 White Horse Pike, Princess Anne Apartments—

Complaint cites violations under Collingswood Borough Code. Various police reports between July 7, 2010 and August 13, 2011 resulted in the following complaints, summonses or warrants:

• Domestic dispute call results in simple assault summons against one property resident 
• One adult (charged with crimes of the third and fourth degree) and one juvenile arrested and charged for drugs
• Resident arrested after two active arrest warrants located
• Simple assault
• Police responded to reports of a fight; one participant found to possess outstanding arrest warrant
• One individual arrested inside of property; complaints issued for receiving stolen property and resisting arrest
• Police responded to reports of a fight; harassment charge filed against one property resident
• Police responded to reports of a final restraining order violation; disorderly persons complaint issued
• Domestic complaint call resulted in a simple assault charge and a temporary restraining order
• Domestic report resulted in the issuance of a simple assault disorderly persons' complaint against two separate individuals
• Summons issued for disorderly conduct

1025 Collings Ave.—

Complaint cites violations under Collingswood Borough Code, and "conviction of a violation under borough code in municipal court or any other court of competent jurisdiction." Various violations were located up to November 8, 2011, and resulted in the following:

(According to the complaint, the defendant plead guilty to certain charges, and was judged with fees, fines and costs).

• Nuisance prohibited (Borough Code Violation)
• Compliance with other laws (Borough Code Violation)
• (Improper) storage of solid household items (Borough Code Violation)
• Open and overflowing bins (Borough Code Violation)
• Bedbugs observed in Apartments 1; 4; 6; 8; 11; 12; and 18 (Borough Code Violation)
• Apt. Unit 1—Sinks, radiator, bathroom flooring, and countertops in disrepair (Borough Code Violation)
• Open (and overflowing) refuse can found containing waste such as garbage, food and trash (Borough Code Violation)
• Bags of garbage located on fire escape of third floor (Borough Code Violation)
• Collapsed ceilings and broken windows in four units (Borough Code Violation/BOCA Violation)
• Bedrooms in Apartments 10 and 12 found to have no smoke detectors (Borough Code Violation)
• Heating oil line cut; oil spill not attended to (Borough Code Violation)
• Property owner illegally attached a sump pump to borough sewer line, pumping oil into a sanitary sewer (Borough Code Violation)
• Trash, debris and broken furniture in area of rear yard and parking lot (Borough Code Violation)
• Door to roof missing (BOCA Violation)
• Cracked wall foundation (BOCA Violation)
• Unsanitary kitchen area in Apartments 2, 6, and 19; unsanitary bedroom in Apartment 11 (BOCA Violation)
• No dryer vent installed in Apartment 20 (BOCA Violation)
• Wiring conduits in third floor front and rear hallways and first floor hallway found not to be secure (BOCA Violation)
• Fly infestations in Apartments 2, 4, 9, and 15 (BOCA Violation)
• Bed bug infestations found in every single apartment, common hallway, as well as in basement (BOCA Violation)
• Leaking sewer pipe (BOCA Violation)
• Broken CO detector (Borough and State Code Violation)
• Failure to install outlet plate covers near basement furnace (Borough and State Code Violation)
• Failure to mend exposed wiring in parking lot (Borough and State Code Violation)
• Failure to furnish permanent diking near heating oil tanks, which are made to contain a 550-gallon minimum of leaking product (Borough and State Code Violation)

According to the complaint, was called to 1025 Collings Ave. more than 58 times between January 12, 2010 to October 14, 2011, for incidents not limited to the following:

• Disorderly conduct
• Noise violation
• Domestic violence
• Simple assault
• Burglary
• Harassment
• Aggravated assault with a firearm
• Endangering the welfare of children
• Receiving stolen property
• Possession of a Controlled, Dangerous Substance (CDS)
• Fugitive of Justice (residing at said property)
• Hindering apprehension

With regard to criminal activity at Princess Anne Apartments, Collingswood Police Chief Richard Sarlo said, "It's (an area more inclined) to criminal activity than your average apartment complex, yes."