Housing Violations Case Adjourned

The owner of a Park Avenue home that was destroyed by a fire in November is due back in court in three weeks for alleged housing violations at the multi-family residence.

Owner David Chiarolanzio and his attorney, Samuel DeAngelis, appeared as scheduled in court Wednesday evening along with environmental health specialist Tamica Trotman of the Madison Health Department, who issued the summons in the case, and the matter was adjourned to Feb. 20.

Chiarolanzio was issued the summons Dec. 17 for allegedly violating sections of the borough code outlining housing standards.

Chiarolanzio is charged with having tenants living in "unfit dwellings" that did not conform to the New Jersey State Housing Code, and with not properly registering rental properties with the borough. The alleged issues came to the attention of borough officials when they responded to the fire the month before.

Anyone found guilty of violating any of Madison's housing standards can face, at the discretion of the judge, a fine not to exceed $2,000, up to 90 days in jail, or community service for each offense.

The house was torn down this month, allowing investigators to complete their investigation of the fire's cause. The fire was ruled accidental and is believed to have started in a basement utility room around a furnace or chimney, Borough Fire Chief Lou DeRosa said.