The Health Officer and Borough Administrator
shall be and they are hereby designated as authorized Borough officials,
whenever necessary to protect the health and safety of residential
tenants as hereinafter defined, to act as an agent for a landlord
in engaging a fuel oil dealer to deliver fuel oil at a reasonable
price per gallon and to refire the burner to restore the proper heating
of any residential property rented by the landlord; provided, however,
that at least 12 hours have elapsed, if the outside air temperature
is between 33° F. and 55° F., inclusive, or at least four
hours have elapsed, if the outside air temperature is 32° F. or
less, since the tenant has lodged a complaint with any municipal officer
or agency, prior to which complaint a bona fide attempt has been made
by the tenant or his/her representative to notify the landlord of
the lack of heat and the landlord has failed to take appropriate action.
"Lack of heat" means maintaining less heat than required by N.J.S.A.
26:3-31.
[Amended 2-9-2006 by Ord.
No. 1953]
A fuel oil dealer who delivers fuel oil or refires the burner in accordance with § 117-1 above may bill the landlord directly or the municipality in which the property is located may issue a voucher to the fuel oil dealer for the money amount due on fuel oil delivered and the service charge for refiring the burner, if any. The voucher shall be paid in the manner provided for the approval and payment of claims pursuant to Chapter
13, Claims Approval.
The provisions of this chapter do not apply
to owner-occupied residential rental properties containing five units
or fewer.
A landlord or his/her agent whose negligence or failure to act results in municipal action as set forth in § 117-1 above shall be liable to the penalties in Chapter
1, Article
I, General Penalty, for each affected dwelling unit in the residential property. Said penalty shall be recoverable by the Borough in a civil action brought by way of summary proceedings pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:58-1, brought to the Superior Court, County District Court or the Municipal Court. The amount of said penalty shall be paid to the municipality to be used for general municipal purposes. In such proceedings, the Court shall also order the landlord or his/her agent to reimburse the municipality for actual costs incurred for any fuel oil delivered and service charges for refiring the burner, if any, and for reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.