Politics & Government

Landlord Fined, Tenants to Be Moved From Home

Owner agrees to fixes in meeting with Borough.

Borough officials on Thursday fined a Madison landlord over substandard conditions at a house he had rented to numerous tenants at 64 Ridgedale Ave.

At an emergency meeting with municipal officals, owner Ralph Pirro, of Randolph, agreed to make repairs to the house in order to bring it into compliance with building codes.

Because of the enforcement nature of the case, officials referred all questions to borough attorney Joseph Mezzacca.

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"The owner has an attorney and is cooperating with the borough in its continuing investigation," said Mezzacca, who did not attend the meeting. He did not know the amount of the fine, or what specific upgrades were planned to the property.

Mezzacca said the borough had not previously seen a case like this.

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The were revealed Feb. 3 when the was called to extinguish a blaze that damaged the porch and filled the mansard-style house with smoke. There were no smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, and only one fire exit for the 12 people in the house at the time, officials said. Bedrooms were set up throughout the building's four levels, according to fire officials.

Pirro and his attorney did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Mezzacca said there is a plan to have the building's tenants move out while repairs are being made, which would likely have to be completed "pretty quick, in about a month." He did not know the details of the relocation plan.

He said fire officials have already conducted a post-fire inspection. Pirro in an earlier this week said painters had temporarily removed the smoke detectors, and that they were in the process of being re-installed.

“The house definitely needs fixing up, the porch roof needs to be replaced, but it is a historic building,” Pirro said.

Mezzacca said a building code official will likely also conduct a separate inspection.

Related story: Boro Preservationists Want Ridegdale Ave. on Endangered List


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