Report Shows Uptick In Housing Investigations In Springs

Code enforcement activity in the first quarter of the year appears to have been driven primarily by complaints of housing violations in Springs, according to data released by the East Hampton Town Ordinance Enforcement Department.

The department looked into 75 suspected cases of housing violations, like overcrowding and too many parked vehicles, townwide between January 1 and March 31, more than any other type of violation, according to a quarterly report released by the department.

A majority of those cases—51 in total—were in Springs, which has experienced a population boom in recent years. Residents of the hamlet have mobilized against overcrowding, illegal multi-family homes and illegal apartments in recent months, citing climbing school district taxes and a declining quality of life.

Fifty-two of the housing violation cases townwide were spurred by complaints from the public, according to the report. The rest were uncovered in patrols or by other agencies. Activists in Springs have been encouraging their neighbors to report suspected violations.

The data is hard to put in context because the report is the Ordinance Enforcement Department’s first such update in recent memory. But David Buda, a founding member of The Springs Concerned Citizens who has called on the town to do a better job pursuing housing violations in the hamlet, said the department has responded to an outcry by undertaking more investigations.

“I have to say it’s very encouraging that there’s a tremendous increase in enforcement action, there’s been a tremendous effort made by the Ordinance Enforcement Department,” he said. “And there’s been some evidence of significant results, but not every case results in significant results, and many of the cases, the important cases, become very protracted because of difficulties.”

While the number of investigations is encouraging, Mr. Buda said, there is a key factor missing from the report.

“It doesn’t show the important thing, which is what is the outcome of the cases, what is the result in terms of activity at the justice court, and sometimes that result can be very disheartening.” Mr. Buda, who attends hearings as part of his group’s “Court Watch” program, said one major violator on Three Mile Harbor Road was recently fined $500 despite being charged with dozens of housing violations.

“The real question one has to ask the Ordinance Enforcement Department is are they satisfied with that kind of result for that kind of case?” he said. “I would not be.”

Public Safety Division Director Patrick Gunn and Director of Code Enforcement Betsy Bambrick did not return calls seeking comment on the data.

The quarterly report shows that the 75 townwide housing violation investigations are at various stages, including 38 that are in court, 19 that are still under investigation and 15 that were determined to be unfounded.

Councilwoman Theresa Quigley said the Town Board directed the Ordinance Enforcement Department to focus on housing violations, but did not target Springs or any specific area.

“We did say we want priorities set up, and focuses, and one of those focuses should certainly be health and safety in people’s living areas,” she said.

The Ordinance Enforcement Department opened 265 cases overall during the period covered in the report, with other categories including lighting, zoning and safety violations. Environmental violations, which involve litter, protected land and sign codes, came in second to housing townwide, with the department opening 73 cases.

The report may separately count multiple suspects who are related to the same home, upping the recorded number of cases, Mr. Buda noted. He said his group will continue to encourage Springs residents to take action against suspected violations.

“I think the fact is that as good as the Ordinance Enforcement Department is, they can’t do the job by themselves,” he said. “They have to rely on vigilance from concerned citizens who report violations.”