Brookhaven Supervisor Panico calls on Suffolk County to Inspect DSS Houses
On January 18, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Daniel J. Panico sent a letter to Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine offering the services of the Town’s Building Inspectors to the County’s Department of Social Services (DSS) in Brookhaven Town.
In the letter, the Supervisor points out that “the County does not inspect all Social Service rental units before sending the rental checks to the landlord.” He also noted that Suffolk County “doesn’t even check with the Town to see if the units have a rental permit,” which is required for all rentals in the Town of Brookhaven. He offered Town’s building inspection service to no cost to the County.
He said, “If the County is willing to agree to this arrangement and enforce the law already in place, the Town will do the inspections for the County free of charge.”
Supervisor Panico stated that the County’s practice has “impacted low to moderate income communities” in the Town of Brookhaven, including Gordon Heights, North Bellport, Coram, Mastic and Mastic Beach. He said, “anyone receiving Social Service assistance should not have to accept sub-standard housing that does not meet New York State Building and Fire Safety Codes.” He also noted that he would “urge Suffolk County Social Services not to pay rent for units that fail to meet New York State Building and Fire Safety codes.”
To learn more about the Town of Brookhaven’s Department of Housing and Community Development, go to the Town website.