Mayor Curley asked the Village of Suffern Board of Trustees to authorize hiring an engineer to evaluate the condition of the fire-damaged property at 8189 Lafayette Avenue under Chapter 100 of the village code.

The measure, made as a motion and approved by the board, is intended to produce an engineering report that could form the basis for legal enforcement or for the village to perform necessary work and later bill the property owner. "This board is not accepting that. So we're gonna go ahead and hire an engineer to go ahead and give us a report so we can go legally further," Mayor Curley said during the discussion.

Why it matters: trustees described the building as a longstanding public-safety and nuisance concern. The mayor said the property suffered a "massive fire" in January 2022, has been in disrepair for more than three years, and has not responded adequately to notices of violation. The board discussed the risk to firefighters and the public if the structure remains unsafe.

What the board decided: Trustee Atkins moved to authorize the mayor to hire an engineer; Trustee Corte seconded the motion. The board approved the motion by voice vote. The motion directs staff to obtain an engineer's evaluation under Chapter 100 of the village code; no timetable or vendor was specified at the meeting.

Discussion vs. decision: trustees debated the property condition and enforcement history during the discussion; the formal action the board took was authorization to hire an engineer to produce a report for possible further legal or remedial steps.

Next steps: the engineer will be engaged and produce a report for the board and staff; the transcript did not specify a deadline, estimated cost, or the name of the engineer or firm to be retained.