Oyster Bay inspectors hearing postponed

A hearing to request an injunction on Oyster Bay's proposed policy assigning private electrical inspectors to building projects was delayed Thursday.

Both parties in the case -- the electrical inspectors and the town -- are to return to state Civil Supreme Court in Mineola Friday.

The inspectors argue that Oyster Bay doesn't have the power to tell property owners, or their contractors, which company they must use for electrical inspections. Every other Long Island town without its own inspectors keeps a list of approved firms from which project applicants can choose.

The inspections are required before a town will issue a certificate of occupancy for a building project.

Oyster Bay leaders say they believe they are in a better position to protect residents' interest in obtaining quality, reasonably priced electrical inspections. While the town initially said it would randomly assign companies to projects, it acknowledged that criticism was causing officials to review exactly how to implement the new policy.