Executing a warrant on a Riverside home on Friday morning, investigators with the Southampton Town Public Safety Department and Town Police said they discovered numerous code violations and overcrowded conditions.
According to the town, there was evidence that 10 to 12 people, including two young children, were living in the single-family, two-bedroom house located on Riverleigh Avenue. Additional sleeping areas were made on the first floor, the attic and basement, and none had adequate egress. Four refrigerators were found in the house, town officials said.
The most egregious safety concern, according to inspectors, was the condition of the home’s heating system. Evidence that a continual fuel oil leak was found, the oil burner switch was taped into the off position, and tape became a makeshift patch for a leaking fuel line.
The chimney damper was also inoperative, creating the possibility that carbon monoxide could fill the home’s living areas, town officials said. The residence was also infested with insects and garbage was found in the yard.
The owner of the home, identified only by the town as a corporation registered in the state in 2002, is facing fines of up to $1,000 per count. All of the occupants of the home were issued field appearance for violating the town’s rental law and are tentatively scheduled to return to court next month.
Also this week, Southampton Town code enforcement officials announced that they had recently completed raids at two locations in Speonk and discovered overcrowded living conditions.
Responding to complaints from Town Police, officers from the Department of Public Safety responded to the apartments located behind the Old Speonk Inn at 190 Montauk Highway. Arriving on the scene, officers discovered overcrowded conditions in all six units and a series of town code violations.
Emmanuel Zervos and John Zaoutis, the owners of the property, have been cited for more than 50 different violations including having missing or inoperable smoke detectors, lack of rental permits, overcrowding, electrical violations, insect infestation and unsanitary conditions. Each violation carries up to a $1,000 fine.
As part of another investigation, public safety officers found the structures at 84 North Phillips Avenue to be overcrowded with numerous violations. Carlos Rendon, the owner of that property, was issued 60 violations ranging from overcrowding to the lack of plumbing and electrical permits, town officials said.
on Oct 19, 2008