Town code enforcement again raids Westhampton home owned by Kabot's aunt

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The home at 54 Old Country Road in Westhampton. The residence, which was slapped with multiple violations during a raid after election day, has four dwelling units, one converted into apartments, a garage, a pool house and two sheds.

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For the second time in two years, Southampton Town code enforcement officers raided the Westhampton home belonging to the aunt of Town Supervisor Linda Kabot, this time charging that the landowner had illegally converted several structures on the property.

Acting on a search warrant shortly after 6 a.m. on November 5, code officers said they discovered a total of 27 people living in a single-family home, garage, pool house and two sheds that were illegally converted into apartments on the 1.7-acre property on Old Country Road.

According to Town Investigator David Betts, the apartments had no certificates of occupancy and were built without proper permits. Also found were “excessive” unregistered vehicles, litter on the property and combustible material near a fireplace, according to Mr. Betts.

Marie Wilkins, the property owner, could not be immediately reached for comment. She is the aunt of Ms. Kabot, the outgoing town supervisor who lost her reelection bid on November 3—two days before the raid.

Ms. Kabot, who has not spoken to her aunt for several months, said she was aware Ms. Wilkins hired an attorney and land use consultant, possibly to seek exemption from town zoning codes because the buildings may predate some codes.

Nonetheless, Ms. Kabot supported town code enforcement. “The town enforces its laws,” Ms. Kabot said. “We all need to come into compliance.”

On Friday, children’s toys, including a playhouse and tricycle, were observed in the front and backyard of the Westhampton home, and seven cars were parked in the driveway. A person who walked inside the single-family home as a reporter approached the property did not respond to requests for comment.

This is not the first time that Ms. Wilkins was found in violation of the town code. In 2007, Ms. Wilkins was issued violations for similar housing offenses at the Westhampton property. Those charges were settled in Southampton Town Justice Court on October 15, 2008, and the court gave Ms. Wilkins a conditional discharge on the condition that she bring the property into compliance with the building and zone code by June 3, 2009.

As a result of last week’s search, code officers filed new charges against Ms. Wilkins for building two new illegal apartments. The officers discovered two basement apartments were built since officers initially searched the property in 2007.

Safety violations carry fines up to $1,000 per offense, and violations of the town’s rental law carry fines of up to $1,500 per offense, according to Ryan Horn, an aide to Ms. Kabot.