Complaint to Council Office leads to action against illegal multi-family house

Farmingville, NY – Supervisor Mark Lesko and Councilman Tim Mazzei have announced a Quality of Life Task Force action that occurred on Wednesday, October 27 at 209 Jamaica Avenue in Medford. Working on a resident’s complaint to Councilman Mazzei’s office, the Quality of Life Task Force investigators found the dwelling to be in violation of town code as a non-owner occupied, illegal multi-family dwelling.

“The absentee owner of this illegal multi-family house was in violation of our Town codes and he will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” said Supervisor Lesko. “I thank our Quality of Life Task Force for the job that they do every day to clean up our neighborhoods and for cracking down on these illegal residences and the owners who blatantly disregard our laws.”

Councilman Mazzei said, "Illegal multi-family houses are a detriment to the neighborhood and a threat to the health and safety of those who live there. The Medford resident who made the complaint did the right thing by reporting this illegal activity and I commend our Quality of Life Task Force for their swift action.”

Upon investigation of the residence, it was determined that the main part of the house was being rented by approximately six occupants and the detached garage was converted to a two bedroom apartment with several occupants. The basement was also converted to habitable space containing two occupants. The Quality of Life Task Force issued the owner, who lives in Sayville, eight appearance tickets, including four misdemeanors and four property violations. A court date has been set for November 10, 2011.

Supervisor Lesko established the Quality of Life Task Force to aggressively enforce the Town code, eliminate blight in neighborhoods, shutdown suburban slumlords, and prosecute serial offenders. Between 2008 and 2010, fines levied on code enforcement violations increased by 255%.

In 2011, Supervisor Lesko established “Operation Clean Sweep,” a coordinated program spearheaded by the Town’s Quality of Life Task Force with the goal of improving the quality of life throughout Brookhaven. This year, a specific neighborhood in each Council District was targeted where Town employees fixed streetlamps, picked up litter, trash and debris, installed new street signs, trimmed trees and conducted other activities to help clean up the neighborhood.

In addition, at the request of Supervisor Lesko and the Town Board, the New York State Office of Court Administration established the Brookhaven Community Court in 2010. It is a special court that is part of the Sixth District Court in Patchogue dedicated to handling proceedings alleging violations of Brookhaven Town ordinances and affecting the quality of life of local residents.

If residents believe that a property is in violation of any Town of Brookhaven codes, they can call 451-TOWN to file a complaint.

Division of Public Information * Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6595 • Fax (631) 451-6258