The deputy mayor of Howell sold his home last week, but has not said where he's living.
HOWELL - Carmen Sandiego was easier to find.
Deputy Mayor Robert Nicastro's home was sold last week, raising questions about where the longtime official is living.
Nicastro, whose council term is up at the end of December, hasn't responded to at least three phone calls and voicemails over four days from the Asbury Park Press.
Real estate records show the sale of his home on Stream Bank Drive for $640,000 was finalized Oct. 18. When the Press knocked on the door, the new owners were occupying the house.
Municipal officials are required to live in the town they serve in, which generally means they need to vote there, get mail there and have their driver's license registered there, said Marc Pfeiffer, assistant director of the Bloustein Local Government Research Center at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
"These things don't come up very often, and sometimes people have to move for different reasons," Pfeiffer said. "If you don't voluntarily relieve your position, it would be up to a court to make a determination as to what your domicile is and whether you have indeed moved out of town."
The transaction was an "off-market," private sale according to the real estate agent who sold Nicastro's home. The house was on the Multiple Listing Service from March 12 to Sept. 12, when it expired. The sale was made after the home was no longer on the market.
Public records show it was at no point under contract for sale while it was listed, and there was no notice of settlement, which is a document filed with the county recording office that protects a potential buyer from someone else trying to buy the same property.
The county recording office said Nicastro's deed change is in process and should be completed by next week.
Other Howell officials told the Press he's "renting in town," but could not provide an address or additional details.
A Township Council meeting scheduled for Oct. 23 was canceled.
Voter registration records checked by the Press show Nicastro still lists his Stream Bank Drive home as his residence.