Director reports: rental inspections, snow citations and short-term rental updates

Sally Domenico, Westchester Borough Director of Building, Housing and Codes Enforcement, presented the departments monthly building and housing summary for January and answered committee questions on enforcement processes.

Domenico reported 61 rental inspections completed in January, 21 of which were student rentals. The department issued 15 permits, logged 16 property-maintenance complaints, received zero disruptive-conduct reports, issued nine enforcement citations and recorded 89 trash tickets for the month. Domenico said the handheld citation-tracker captures photos when tickets are issued and staff receives appeals; she estimated the appeal period and enforcement follow-up (one speaker referenced a seven-day appeal window).

On snow and sidewalk enforcement, Domenico told the committee property owners have 24 hours after snow ceases to clear sidewalks of snow and ice. She said staff aims to be realistic when starting the 24-hour clock after storms and gave an example setting the clock at 8 a.m. the morning after an overnight snowfall.

Domenico also reported the zoning hearing board has approved three short-term rental applications; once applicants receive their decisions they must apply for borough permits, which will trigger inspections and compliance with Chapter 66 permit conditions. On the points-accumulation process for problem properties, staff said one property could reach seven points if convicted of a recent trash citation; borough rules allow suspension, denial or revocation of a student rental license at 10 points.

Committee members asked for supplementary pages of the citation tracker and the points tracker; Domenico said she would provide the additional materials to committee members.