North Hempstead delays look at mandatory carbon monoxide detectors

North Hempstead officials have postponed a vote on legislation mandating carbon monoxide detectors, after a sustainability expert urged strengthening the proposed law.

The town board voted 7-0 Tuesday night to continue the hearing on April 22. The town has proposed requiring detectors in places of assembly -- buildings with 1-49 people -- and public assembly, buildings with 50 or more people. All residencies must have detectors. Fines can range from $250 to $5,000.

The law would apply to new construction and renovations, in which the owner would have to hardwire detectors into the facility. For existing structures, store-bought detectors would be acceptable.

Detectors for retail and office buildings would not be covered because they would require state approval, officials said.

Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said the proposed law is in response to the February death of Steven Nelson, 55, a Huntington Station Legal Sea Foods manager who succumbed, authorities said, to a gas leak.

A town survey of commercial buildings showed that few had detectors voluntarily installed, officials said.

Neal Lewis, who heads the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, asked the town board Tuesday to expand the law. Lewis urged requiring the purchase of detectors with digital readouts, to indicate low-level emissions that can still cause sickness.

"It's such a simple solution to something that could be really sapping your energy," he said.

Lewis said the town should require inspections or repairs to combustion systems to begin and end with carbon monoxide tests for the area where work has been performed.

He told board members that in crafting the legislation they should "not miss an opportunity to accept a great deal more."

Town spokeswoman Carole Trottere said the town is considering Lewis' suggestions.