New Farmingdale law targets blighted properties

Owners of blighted properties in Farmingdale must clean up and fix their buildings and grounds or risk steep fines and jail time, according to a stringent new property maintenance law.

Farmingdale board members on Monday voted, 4-1, to amend and replace a chapter of the village code with a measure that prohibits blighted property and forbids stagnant water, overgrown lawns, broken building foundations, rodent-infested homes and other factors “detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the Village.”

The law, similar to one passed in June by neighboring Massapequa Park, is aimed in large part at foreclosed homes and the banks that have failed to maintain them, officials said.

Penalties range from a minimum $250 for the first offense to a maximum $10,000 in fines and 15 days behind bars for the third offense.

Some residents at Monday’s public hearing thought the law could be broader.

Joe Diurno said it should include storefronts, adding that the inconsistency in aesthetics “gives you the image as you go down Main Street, especially in twilight, that this is a shantytown.”

Others thought the law was overreaching.

“You’re responsible if your tree limb goes over the neighbor’s yard? Who wrote this?” Nick Ezzo asked. “You can’t do anything, folks. This is ridiculous.”

The law allows the village building inspector to check for compliance “at all reasonable times.” The inspector does not need a warrant if he or she has owner permission and if there is an imminent health or safety hazard, according to the law.

A village attorney, Claudio DeBellis, said violators have enough time to comply before fines are imposed. Grass and shrubs must be trimmed within five days of a notice and other conditions of blight must be fixed within 20 days.