Town wants court to help recoup $1.4M

Huntington Town officials are going to State Supreme Court for help in recouping $1.4 million in fines from a business owner they say has ignored legal orders to stop operating a used car business in a residentially zoned area of Huntington Station.

The fines stem from litigation dating to 2004 against John Mastroianni and his John's Bay Limousine Inc., who own a used car dealership at 320 Depot Rd. and a recently set up auto repair shop at 320A Depot Rd. The town also seeks help in closing the latter two businesses.

The town filed for a summary judgment in April after, town officials said, they became fed up that Mastroianni ignored both a restraining order to close the businesses and town demands for payments of fines. Also named is 320 Brompton Enterprises Inc., owner of the properties.

"The defendants have just written them [the fines] off as the cost of doing business," town supervisor Frank Petrone said. Enforcing fines, he said, would mean the defendants' "only option is to close down."

Mastroianni could not be reached for comment.

In 2010, town officials said, the defendant expanded the used car business at 320 Depot Rd. -- without proper zoning board of appeals permits -- to 320A Depot Rd., where cars are repaired and moved to the used car dealership for sale. In papers filed by the town in April, Huntington officials also contend the defendants illegally erected commercial signs, an awning and a cinder block wall.

The suit seeks $594,500 from Mastroianni and $599,500 from John's Bay Limousine Inc. for operating the used car dealership, and $218,500 from the defendants combined for building the cinder block wall, a total of about $1.41 million. That represents $250 per day per violation dating from 2004.