Smithtown targets dilapidated properties

Smithtown town officials are compiling a list of more than a dozen dilapidated properties and trying to track down their owners, Councilman Edward Wehrheim said.

Wehrheim, who will discuss the effort Monday night at a meeting of the Kings Park Civic Association, said the inventory will help the town pressure property owners to tear down or repair buildings on those lots.

“We have a number of derelict buildings that have been identified and boarded up,” Wehrheim said. “What we’re trying to do is compile a list and have our planning department try to contact owners and try to ascertain what their future plans are.”

Councilmen Kevin Malloy and Robert Creighton are leading the project, he said.

Wehrheim said he also plans to discuss economic development and take questions from the audience.

“I’m going to fill them in on the fiscal status of the town and how we’re faring in the economy and how this relates to economic development,” he said.

The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday at Kings Park High School.