Islip board to vote on new blight law Tuesday

Islip Town officials are taking aim at blight with a new plan to grab the attention of out-of-state banks and mortgage companies that won't clean up derelict foreclosed homes.

The town proposes to adopt a points system to define blight, create a registry of blighted properties that accumulate 100 points or more, and slap a fee on those properties' tax bills.

Property owners on the list would have to pay up, annually, until they clean up their act.

Islip, whose town board is expected to vote on the proposal Tuesday, would be the first Long Island town to adopt such a policy.

Municipalities traditionally tackle blight by issuing code violations and, in cases where public safety is at risk, cleaning and boarding up properties, then billing the owner.

Many towns also acquire derelict properties for affordable housing developments.

Brookhaven Town in October approved a program called Blight to Light designed specifically to redevelop commercial properties.

Officials there rank blighted properties based on severity of blight, location and potential for redevelopment.

Islip's plan is the first to create a points system and charge property owners an annual fee - $2,500 for residential properties, $5,000 for commercial properties - for inclusion on a blight list.

One municipal law expert, Assemb. Tom McKevitt (R-East Meadow), said Monday that while the courts give municipalities great leeway in defining blight, Islip's plan could face legal challenges because unlike a town code violation, the fee would be imposed by the town, rather than a judge.

Assistant town attorney Erin Sidaris said property owners could appeal to the zoning board of appeals, and then to the State Supreme Court.

Islip Supervisor Phil Nolan said the proposal was crafted with the rights of property owners in mind.

"Absolutely, they have rights," he said. "And so do their neighbors. We're in the business of balancing those rights."

Town officials said the new tool would be used to pressure owners of the most glaring and persistent examples of blight, particularly out-of-state banks and mortgage companies that don't respond to town summonses.

The town will not target homeowners who are struggling financially and can't afford repairs, Sidaris said.

Nancy Manfredonia, executive director of the Central Islip Civic Council, lobbied the town to adopt tougher measures on blight, which she said decreases property values.

Central Islip, Brentwood and Bay Shore - where most recent town board-ups have occurred - have been particularly hard-hit by the mortgage crisis, she said.

"The banks will say, 'Well, we don't technically own it yet,' " she said. "But they certainly pay the taxes so they don't lose the property."

With Stacey Altherr, Denise M. Bonilla, Mitchell Freedman,

Paul LaRocco, Deborah S. Morris and Patrick Whittle

List of points for blight offenses

50: poses a threat to public safety, health

50: code violations remain uncorrected

50: property is attracting illegal activity

50: poses a fire hazard

30: vermin infestation

20: unfinished construction

15: junk vehicles on premises

15: broken/unsecured decks, sheds, pools

10: broken windows

10: grass longer than 10 inches

10: graffiti

10: excessive litter and debris

10: unrepaired fire damage

10: damaged/fallen trees

5: boarded windows, doors

5: peeling paint