Brookhaven task force nets $1M in fines

Brookhaven Town’s Quality Of Life Task Force has issued more than $1 million in fines this year — an increase of more than 300 percent from three years ago, Supervisor Mark Lesko said.

The task force, which enforces the town’s codes and issues tickets, had levied $1,091,225 in fines as of Dec. 15, Lesko said. Officials said that is a 332 percent increase from 2008, the year before Lesko formed the task force.

The town had collected $543,475 through the end of November, spokesman Jack Krieger said.

The task force exists “to prosecute serial offenders of the Town code, shutdown suburban slumlords, and eliminate residential blight in neighborhoods,” according to a town statement.

“The Quality of Life Task Force continues to aggressively enforce the town code against the most flagrant violators and has definitely made an impact in the town since 2009,” Lesko said in the statement.

The task force includes code enforcement officers, housing inspectors, waste management officials and representatives from other town departments.

Above: Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko