Houses cited for multiple code violations on East Hampton court docket
This house, at 17 Ocean Blvd. in East Hampton, has been cited by the town with 61 alleged code violations. This was the house on Aug. 6, 2015. Credit: Doug Kuntz
Two cases involving single-family properties in East Hampton Town cited with dozens of safety and code violations and accusations of use in business operations will be heard in court Monday.
One of the homes is owned by HCDC LLC Holdings of Glen Cove and was being used as a dormitory for 25 counselors working at the HCDC-owned Hamptons Country Day Camp. Nassau County Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs is a main shareholder and managing partner in the company.
The other case involves a Springs house at 160 Red Dirt Rd. owned by Leanna Erdmann. She pleaded not guilty to 26 charges during her arraignment last Monday. The charges stem from the alleged use of the home as a resort in a residential neighborhood.
The town has cited Erdmann, 57, for converting a garage and an artist's studio into additional living space without the required permits, inspections and approvals; having no building permits or certificates of occupancy for completed renovations; having open pool gates that were not self-closing and latching; and lacking a required pool alarm and a code-compliant pool barrier.
Neither Erdmann nor her attorney, William Grigo of Southampton, could be reached for comment.
East Hampton Assistant Town Attorney Michael Sendlenski said in an interview that he expects Erdmann to tell the court she has corrected the alleged violations involving the pool "because a number of the charges deal with the pool."
Sendlenski said that last week Erdmann was granted an adjournment until Monday "to give her one week to see if she could become compliant with the code" so a reinspection of the pool could be done. He said he did not know how Erdmann planned to answer the other allegations.
Jacobs, who was originally named in the HCDC case but was removed in August as a defendant, declined recent requests for comment. In previous interviews, he has said the charges were exaggerated or unfounded, and that he purchased the house with its current dormitory-style design.
The charges involve 61 code violations at a home at 17 Ocean Blvd. They include change of use or type of occupancy; use of a single-family home as a dormitory; no smoke alarms, building permit or certificate of occupancy; improper gates and enclosure; excessive vehicles in a rental; and failure to keep clean and sanitary conditions.
Brian C. Doyle, a Water Mill attorney who represents HCDC, could not be reached for comment.
Both cases are to be heard in East Hampton Town Justice Court before Judge Lisa R. Rana.
