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Broome County Sheriff's Office briefs Town of Union on squatters; resident recounts nearby arson
Summary
Chief Jesse Genter and Captain Harding outlined landlord and tenant rights and directed residents to NYCourts.gov for eviction forms; resident Bob Utter described a local house fire he linked to squatters and urged local solutions, prompting comments from board members.
Broome County Sheriff's Office representatives addressed the Town Board on Sept. 18 to explain squatters' issues and the eviction process and to point residents to state resources.
Chief Jesse Genter (Civil Division) and Captain Harding (Law Enforcement Division) summarized legal and procedural pathways for landlords and tenants and said the New York State Courts website has forms and process guidance. Chief Genter told the board that the NYCourts.gov site "has a lot of information for landlord rights and tenant rights; and it also has all the forms along with the process for evictions. It is a great website." The town posted the full presentation to its YouTube page.
During the Hearing of Visitors, resident Bob Utter of Airport Road described suffering from squatters at a property on Nanticoke Avenue in Endicott; he said occupants were served notice to leave one day and the house was set on fire the next. Utter asked whether the town could adopt a local law to address the problem. The minutes record no legal remedy proposed at the meeting; Councilman Joseph P. Nirchi said the only local remedy is through voting and suggested the situation will persist "until the bail law is back in force," and Supervisor Robert Mack said the problem "has become a nightmare." The minutes do not include independent verification or an investigative report regarding the fire Utter described.
The board did not adopt any new local ordinance at the meeting. The town clerk's minutes and the Sheriff's presentation direct residents to state court resources for eviction forms and procedures.
