The City of Passaic authorized emergency repairs to a fire-alarm system at a multiunit building after a New Year's fire displaced residents, and city officials told the Jan. 21 meeting the landlord reimbursed the city for the work.

A member of the public, Joseph Connesenti, raised concerns about why the city would authorize payment related to a landlord with outstanding violations. “Why is this guy given money to do alarm system when they had the fire and no alarms worked?” Connesenti asked.

Mayor (name not specified in the transcript) and Business Administrator Rick Fernandez responded that the city’s immediate priority was getting displaced residents back into safe housing. The mayor said local officials can require repairs and then recover costs, placing liens or pursuing court action if necessary. He described the process as analogous to a criminal investigation, where the city builds a file and pursues enforcement steps. “We can't simply stand on principle while individuals are out on the street in the cold,” the mayor said.

The business administrator told the council the city had received a check from the landlord to cover the emergency work. He said the administration uses fines, liens and referrals to prosecutors when landlords do not comply.

Officials said the city has expanded code and inspection staffing and runs weekend inspections to address urgent habitability issues more quickly. Mayor and council members said those measures are intended to reduce the time residents spend displaced and to improve enforcement of housing standards.

What was decided: the council authorized (by routine resolution) payment related to emergency repairs; according to the business administrator the landlord has reimbursed the city for the work and the city will continue legal action where appropriate.