New Islip Town official resigns after code violations

A new employee slated to become Islip Town's deputy commissioner for public safety enforcement resigned six weeks later after disclosing his home had violations of the code he would be enforcing.

Joseph DiPalma, a former NYPD officer and former West Islip fire chief, was missing a certificate of compliance for his finished basement and had three code violations relating to a first-floor apartment where his mother-in-law lives.

DiPalma, who resigned on April 2, said he was not aware that he needed to obtain permits for the renovations and apply for a change of use to convert his house to a two-family home.

"I have an elderly mother-in-law that lives with me that I'm providing residence to, and I'm working diligently to bring the house up to code," he said in an interview this week. "I did not know that when you have a family member, that you have to go for a permit. I'm trying to correct it. I'm not trying to hide anything."

DiPalma interviewed for the deputy commissioner position in early February and told public safety enforcement Commissioner Larry O'Leary and departing deputy Commissioner Robin Bahnsen that he had no code violations and could think of nothing that could be an embarrassment to the administration, O'Leary said.

On Feb. 16, DiPalma was hired as secretary to the commissioner and told he would train with Bahnsen for a few weeks before assuming her title.

Three days later, he was asked to sign a form for new employees acknowledging receipt of town policies, including a memo on building permits that says employees must have all necessary building permits and lists which home improvements may require them. After reading the memo, DiPalma told Bahnsen that he had renovated his home without obtaining permits, DiPalma and town officials said.

A subsequent investigation revealed the four violations. Islip Supervisor Phil Nolan said he told DiPalma that the situation was "untenable" and DiPalma offered to resign."It turns out that he has violations and obviously can't work in that capacity," Nolan said. "He's a good person but. . . you can't enforce rules that you haven't followed. He's got his mother-in-law living with him. Although we all can sort of understand . . . when you start making alterations to your home, you should at least ask."