Special magistrate continues Lakeville case, confirms fines in multiple Pembroke Park code hearings

Special Magistrate Harry Hippler on April 16, 2025 continued a major code‑compliance matter involving air‑conditioning work at the Lakeville Apartments and issued or confirmed fines and compliance deadlines in more than a dozen other cases heard at Pembroke Park Town Hall.

The magistrate continued the Lakeville Apartments case (case 8786) for 60 days rather than confirm a $20,150 lien, saying the per‑day fine would continue to accrue in the meantime. The town and the property’s representatives told the magistrate they expect plan review and inspections to move the matter toward compliance.

Why it matters: the special magistrate’s orders either confirm civil fines or give owners a set period to obtain permits, finish inspections and close permits; those outcomes can produce liens, daily penalties and administrative costs that affect owners and tenants. The hearing covered repeated violations such as work done without permits, business tax receipt lapses and unpermitted electrical or mechanical installations.

The Lakeville Apartments matter

The town presented case 8786, saying a final order previously entered because the property remained noncompliant. The town asked the magistrate to confirm a $20,150 fine tied to earlier orders and continuing violations. Counsel for the property objected to confirmation while permitting and inspections remained unresolved, arguing delays had been caused by back‑and‑forth plan‑review comments.

Brian Sherman, assistant town attorney, told the magistrate there are “applicable statutes and procedures that are in place” for using private inspectors if the building official approves that process. Jeffrey Lewis, the town’s building manager, said the project had just submitted mechanical data sheets and that "most likely a week by the time we get…