Town of Babylon Rental Board orders repairs, grants extensions and approves a handful of permits

The Town of Babylon Rental Board met in public session and considered a series of rental-permit renewals and applications, directing repairs at multiple properties and granting extensions to allow work to be completed.

Chairman Sal Mingano opened the hearing and read procedures before the board took up the first case, a renewal for a property listed on the agenda as 11550 America Avenue in West Babylon. Dorothy Ashkar, who said she was the representative for the owner and was sworn for the record, confirmed she submitted the renewal and agreed to the town’s terms. Neighbors raised maintenance concerns: “the person who owns the house, the house is not up to par,” said neighbor James Scannapico, who added the owner lives out of state. Board members directed the owner to replace the entire driveway and repair siding/capping; the applicant was instructed to submit photos for reinspection. The board voted to extend the permit deadline to April 30 to allow the work to be completed (motion by Kelly Medwig; seconded by Carla Bryant).

Across multiple hearings the board repeatedly identified similar deficiencies: cracked or deteriorated driveways, damaged stoops and railings, peeling paint, debris and unlicensed or unregistered vehicles, and damaged or missing fence sections. At one hearing the board told an applicant to remove a boat from the property and to remove bags of garbage in the rear. Applicants acknowledged the lists and were given deadlines to complete repairs. Board member Mark Smith summarized one repair list this way: replace the front walkway, repair the stoop, paint and secure handrails, remove unlicensed vehicles and debris, repair the chain-link fence and replace cement at the side of the home.

Some renewals were approved without additional conditions. The board granted a permit for 43 Andrews Avenue in Wheatley Heights after no board member raised objections. A permit for 20 South 21st Street also was approved following a standard review and no objections from the public or the board.

Several cases were not heard or were adjourned because the required public-notice sign was not posted. The board said it would not hear three cases this evening (including the property listed on the agenda as 469 Old Country Road in Deer Park and another on Midwood Road) and instructed applicants to re-file with a correct notice sign or to set a new hearing date. A resident who said the sign at 469 Old Country Road had been posted since Nov. 7 disputed the staff notation that photographs showed the sign missing; staff invited her to speak with staff after the meeting to resolve the discrepancy.

Where the board granted extensions, the terms and next steps were explicit: applicants were asked to photograph work in progress and after completion and to submit those photos to the rental office so inspectors could verify compliance. One case received a longer extension to Dec. 18 for repairs that include debris removal, removing a vehicle from the property, replacing a rear-door screen and repairing a rear window.

The hearing concluded with routine administrative adjournments and the end of the live stream. The board’s actions were procedural enforcement of the rental-code inspection process rather than adoption of new policy.

Votes at a glance • Motion to extend renewal for property identified on the agenda as 11550 America Avenue to April 30 — motion by Kelly Medwig; seconded by Carla Bryant; outcome: approved by voice vote (ayes recorded; no opposition noted). (See timeline for initial and concluding discussion.) • Motion to extend renewal for the applicant represented by Jessica Aldana (address on the record) to April 30 — motion by Carla Bryant; seconded by Kelly Medwig; outcome: approved by voice vote. • Motion to extend renewal for 800 North Lowood Avenue to April 30 — motion by Mark Smith; seconded by Maria Adesi; outcome: approved by voice vote. • Motion to extend renewal for 44 Earl Street to April 30 — motion by Mark Smith; seconded by Maria Adesi; outcome: approved by voice vote. • Motion to approve rental permit for 43 Andrews Avenue — motion by Mark Smith; seconded by Maria Adesi; outcome: approved by voice vote. • Motion to approve rental permit for 20 South 21st Street — motion by Mark Smith; seconded by Maria Adesi; outcome: approved by voice vote. • Motion to extend renewal for 9 Lincoln Avenue to Dec. 18 — motion by Maria Adesi; seconded by Mark Smith; outcome: approved by voice vote. • Multiple cases (including 469 Old Country Road and a Midwood Road address) were adjourned for lack of posted public-notice signs.

What happens next Applicants who received extensions must complete repairs, photograph work-in-progress and finished work, and submit photos to the rental office for reinspection. Cases adjourned for missing signs must post the required notice and reapply or set a new hearing date.