Town Hall Notes: Board Considers Changing Codes on Vacation Rentals

The Town Board is wrestling with what to do about houses rented to transients on vacation, particularly homes that have been the source of complaints from neighbors.

According to town code, rentals of homes in residential districts must have lease agreements extending 30 days or more. But according to Kevin Maccabee, the head of code enforcement who spoke at Thursday’s work session, the law is often violated, with some homes being rented out for only a weekend at a time.     

Maccabee said that, with greater frequency, he has been receiving complaints about raucous parties that extend into the early hours, noting that 60 residents living in and around Waterview Terrace in South Jamesport have submitted a petition calling for action against a particular homeowner.

Supervisor Sean Walter said he saw it as good thing that people want to come to Riverhead on vacation, arguing that some homeowners probably depend on summer rentals to pay expenses, including taxes. Councilwoman Jodi Giglio joined in that sentiment, arguing that what was needed was stricter enforcement of laws already on the books.

The consensus on the Town Board was that while existing laws should be enforced to their fullest – including the requirement that would-be renters submit applications for approval from the town – there ought to a modest relaxation of the 30-day rule.

The feeling expressed was that Riverhead should consider what the Town of East Hampton has on its books – namely that homes may be rented out for a two-week period, but only twice in given year. Further discussion of the idea was set for next Thursday’s work session.

Town to allow railroad station lease to run out

Riverhead has decided to terminate its no-fee lease of the railroad station from the Metropolitan Transit Authority when the current lease runs out at the end of September.

Supervisor Sean Walter and others on the board had earlier considered asking the MTA for permission to sublet the vacant building to a private business.

At Thursday’s work session, however, Councilman John Dunleavy noted that the MTA would require any lease holder to keep the station’s restrooms open to the public – something, Dunleavy argued, no private business would be willing to do.

Town attorney Robert Kozakiewicz said that the MTA had wanted to extend the lease on a month-to-month basis while the town considered its options. Walter, however, said he wanted to put an end to the cost to the town for upkeep on the vacant building.

“I’d say, give it back,” Walter said, noting that he had offered the building free of charge to the Railroad Museum of Long Island, but that the group said it didn’t have a use for it.

Getting more for seized and surplus goods

The Town Board is poised to sign a contract with a company specializing in auctioning off – over the Internet – property that has been seized by police departments or deemed by municipalities to be surplus or damaged beyond cost-effective repair.

Appearing at Tuesday’s work session, Jim Heaney – a retired New York City police officer who is a Long Island representative for Propertyroom.com, a global operation – explained that the town would receive 87.5 percent of the price the company was able to fetch for vehicles over its global on-line auction site, which is similar to e-Bay.

For non-vehicle items – such things as filing cabinets or damaged equipment – the company would do a 50-50 split with the town.

Police Chief David Hegermiller said he favors the plan because it would bring in more money to the town than the auctions his department conducts and would cost nothing in personnel expenses.

Supervisor’s mother remains in critical condition

Supervisor Walter said Thursday that his mother is still in intensive care at a hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, but is showing some tentative signs of improvement.

Jo-Ann Walter, 69, was stricken with pneumonia while on a cruise with her husband last week and was airlifted to Scotland from the Channel Islands. The supervisor and his brother and sister had flown over to be at her side, causing him to be absent from last week’s Town Board meeting.

At Thursday’s work session, Walter thanked the many residents who had offered their prayers.