North Hempstead board orders cleanup of 841 Old Country Road after neighbors describe hazards

The Town Board of North Hempstead voted Tuesday to authorize the town to clean up 841 Old Country Road in Westbury and to assess the costs to the property owner after a public hearing in which neighbors described safety and quality‑of‑life problems.

Neighbors who live a few blocks from the former Harvest Diner urged the board to act. Resident Anthony Paige said the site has become a “junkyard” with commercial vehicles parked on the lot, persistent noise and fumes and a rodent problem. “Every morning at 06:30 we have videos…they turn their lights on and start their trucks up,” Paige said. Resident Gerard Weeks and others described an exposed cellar and a fallen or permeable fence that allows pedestrians to enter what they called a hazardous lot.

The town attorney and staff explained that, after the public hearing, the town can perform remediation work and then place the cost as an assessment on the owner’s property tax bill; in parallel the town continues court actions to seek enforcement. Board members moved to close the hearing and approved a resolution authorizing the cleanup and assessment.

Residents requested more than weed removal, asking the town to address overgrown mature trees, unlicensed vehicles and the collapsed fencing. Property manager and longtime consultant Neil McLaughlin advised the board on lease‑enforcement remedies and collection of cleanup costs, and several residents said they may pursue private legal action if the town’s process is slow.

What happens next: town staff said they will develop a cleanup plan and either use town crews or hire a contractor; the town indicated it will attempt to identify the owner’s contact information and pursue court steps (including defaults in absentia) to secure penalties, then place any town costs as an assessment on the property.

The board’s action followed the public hearing and closed with the board voting in favor of the resolution.