December 11, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 5 Waldwick Council to get tougher on property maintenance Waldwick Council members are fed up with financial institutions which neglect maintenance on properties subject to fore- closure, becoming a blight on the neigh- borhood, and they are considering an ordinance they hope will curb the problem. Borough Attorney Craig Bossong will pre- pare a draft for the council to discuss early next year. Bossong told the mayor and council last week that a provision in the Save NJ Homes Act of 2008 allows the town to require a mortgage company when it files an intent- to-foreclose notice with the municipality to name a local agent to handle property maintenance issues. Bossong uncovered this provision at the urging of Councilman Frank Palladino, who wanted to find a way to hold banks and mortgage companies responsible for the condition of homes in foreclosure. Borough Administrator Gary Kratz said that while there are only a handful of houses that have habitual maintenance issues, they do present a nuisance to the neighbors. He said currently, when the grass is too high on a vacant property so that it is considered a nuisance or a potential detriment, the prop- erty owner must be notified to remedy the situation. If the problem is not taken care of within a specified time, the town has the grass cut and puts a lien on the property, redeemable when the property is sold. Bossong said it often takes 18 months or longer for a final sale to go through, during which time the owner has walked away and left the house and grounds to deteriorate. “The town will have the local agency to contact to handle the property maintenance, including disrepair, roof leaks, etc. And it short circuits the current process, where you have to wait to get your money back until the house sells,” the attorney said. Bossong said the town sets the regis- tration fee to be charged the local agency, perhaps $500 or more, to cover the town’s costs. CFO Mary Ann Viviani said the pro- posed ordinance would not take care of all problems, because some unkept properties are not in foreclosure but may belong to someone in a nursing home, or vacation- ing for an extended period or be the object (continued on page 31)