Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 5 June '85

5

Repici Gets Maximum For Illegal Hookup

By JOE ZELNIK COURT HOUSE - Realtor Thomas J. Repici was convicted last Thursday of "theft of services" for connecting his Hy-Land Motor Inn to the Middle Township sewage lines without permission. Judge Philip Gruccio gave him the maximum sentence of a $1,000 fine, one year's probation, and at least 180 hours of community service. Still to be determined is what effect the conviction will have on Repici's real estate broker license. He is employed at Avalon Real Estate in Court House. Angelo DeBlasio, assistant director of the New Jersey Real Estate Commission, told this newspaper that he felt it likely the commission would either "revoke or suspend his license. "There could possibly be a fine, too," he added. THE EIGHT-MEMBER commission is made up of

THOMAS J. REPICI five Realtors, two public members, and one gov-ernmental-designate, according to DeBlasio. Repici did not return this newspaper's phone calls to comment on the case. He pleaded' guilty to the theft, which Gruccio said amounted to $179. The county prosecutor's office had charged the value of the stolen services was more than $200, which was a more serious charge with a potential penalty of 18 months in jail and/or a $7,500 fine. But Prosecutor Robert Wells said he was "quite satisfied. We had a successful prosecution of a criminal offense and the judge did give him the maximum penalty." IRONICALLY, the same lack of procedures of the former Middle Township Sewage Commission No. 1. that made it easy for Repici to connect his motel, figured in his defense against the higher charge. The judge said, according to Wells, that the previous lack of specific guideliines on sewage service rates to businesses made it impossible to assign a dollar value to the theft. The new commission last month established a rate system that links the charge for sewage service to water usage.

The judge came up with the $179 total by including a $100 application fee and the annual $79 fee for a resij dence. Repici's home is in the motel. REPICI. AS A PARTNER. in Romney Associates, had received permission in February 1984 to connect a 19-home subdivision called Romney East. But he went on and connected the Hyland at the j rear of the property. This newspaper revealed | the "apparent" violation on 1 April 4, 1984, and published a photograph showing the path of the line from the subdivision to the motel. It also quoted contractor F. Wayne Shawl of Palerma as saying he extended a six-inch sewer line to the motel. Middle Township officials 1 then asked the county prosecutor to investigate. A grand jury investigation resulted, culminating in the indictment last October of ' Repici and a 60-page presentment highly critical of the business practices of the three-member commission. That presentment said it was "disturbed" that no officials knew of the illegal connection although "...the evidence indicates that it was clearly visible." ONE COMMISSION member, Michael Vistenzo, resigned days after the presentment. A second, John M. Ludlam, did not seek reelection in January. The third, Leroy Westcott, ran, but lost, placing sixth among 13 candidates for five posts. After the illegal connection to the 34- unit motel was publicized, the commission ordered Repici to disconnect, which he did. Before doing so, however, he filed an application for the connection, saying that losing it would "compel the closing of the facility at the very outset of the busy tourist season." The motel never closed. REPICI COULD HAVE had a jury trial, but chose, instead, to stipulate to the facts in the grand jury transcript. Gruccio had edited the grand jury presentment and was familiar with the case. The judge, in sentencing, commented, according to Wells, that the lack of business procedures of the sewerage commission had contributed to the problem. And, the judge added, he intended Repici's sentence "as a warning to others that this conduct will not be tolerated."

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