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Town of Babylon OKs emergency cleanup for Lincoln Avenue properties after contractor unloading, owner given week to comply
Summary
The Town of Babylon board approved emergency cleanup resolutions for two Lincoln Avenue properties after inspectors found commercial unloading and storage containers on residential lots. The owner was given a week to meet with town counsel and staff before the town proceeds and bills for cleanup.
The Town of Babylon Town Board on Oct. 22 approved resolutions authorizing emergency cleanup of two properties on Lincoln Avenue after code enforcement reported commercial unloading and large containers on a vacant lot adjacent to a residence.
Supervisor Rich Schaffer told the owner—s representative the board would adopt the cleanup resolutions at the meeting but would give the owner a short chance to meet town staff first. "The day he returns, he can readjust to the time difference ... the next day, he needs to be here, with a meeting with me and the staff that's been involved in this issue," Schaffer said. "If he doesn't keep that commitment, then we will proceed with the resolution, because we'll have the resolution already approved."
The matter arose after senior assistant town attorney Jorge Rosario said inspectors observed an 18-wheel tractor-trailer on a vacant lot identified in town records as 0 Lincoln that was unloading boxes into storage containers. "There was a tractor trailer. I have video. There's a track, an 18 wheeler tractor trailer backed into the vacant lot unloading like a commercial establishment," Rosario said. He said some items were moved into containers placed on a residential street and that the vacant lot had previously been placarded by code enforcement.
Jose Monterosso, who said he owns one of the properties and that his daughter lives in the adjacent house at 70 Lincoln, told the board he had begun cleaning items and removing a boat from the vacant lot. "I already started cleaning it up," he said. He described the containers as storage for personal and business items tied to a sushi restaurant he and family members operate.
An attorney for property owner Karamir Singh, Prem Ganshani, asked for time to complete repairs and to have the property reinspected so a rental permit application could be decided. Ganshani said his client is currently out of the country. The board did not delay adoption of the cleanup resolutions on that request, but Schaffer said the owner must meet staff after he returns.
Schaffer told Monterosso to schedule a meeting with the town attorney's office to learn what the code allows and to come up with a plan. "We're gonna approve these today, but what I would suggest you do is see Mr. Klusner," Schaffer said. He gave the owner a week to work with the town attorney's office to respond and clean up the properties before the town removes debris and bills the owner.
Votes at a glance: The board adopted the consent and resolution agenda and unanimously approved several resolutions by voice vote during the meeting. Resolutions numbered 703, 704, 705, 707 and 708 were approved by voice vote; Resolution 706 was approved by roll call with three votes in favor, one abstention and one absence (see actions below). No zoning or land-use approval for a development was taken at this meeting.
The board's action authorizes the town to perform emergency cleanup consistent with local code enforcement procedures. Town staff directed the owner to meet with the town attorney's office and staff to avoid the town undertaking the cleanup; if no acceptable plan is produced within the week Schaffer described, the town will proceed and bill the property owner.
The board took no other action on related rental-permitting matters at this meeting.
