More Muscle for Ramapo Building Codes

The New York Department of State will place an oversight officer in Ramapo and Spring Valley to ensure that local officials are properly enforcing building codes, according to three of Rockland County's state lawmakers.

The move is a response to repeated deficiencies in the town and village enforcement of building standards and fire codes, they said in an announcement.

“There have been too many incidents where individuals have been hurt and taxpayer funds have been misappropriated because of lack of oversight,” said State Senator David Carlucci, who represents both Ramapo and Spring Valley. “Involving the State to administer these processes along with a tougher penalty for owners of buildings with fire and building code violations will send a strong signal to anyone looking to skirt the law that there are real, human consequences to doing so.”

Firefighters have complained about unsafe conditions in housing and in local nonpublic schools for a long time.

In March, state education officials accused Ramapo's fire inspector, Adam Peltz, of either deceit or incompetence, saying Peltz was clearly either unqualified or not actually performing the inspections he was certifying.

In September, Ramapo Director of Building, Planning and Zoning Anthony Mallia was arrested and accused of stealing more than $100,000 in a yearlong scheme to falsify building permit applications.

Carlucci, Assemblymembers Ken Zebrowski and Ellen Jaffee are also sponsoring legislation that would establish a crime of reckless endangerment of a first responder, for anyone who illegally alters a building and creates a condition that causes injury or death to a first responder.

But the state's moves so far have been unsuccessful at prompting change. Both Ramapo and Spring Valley were cited by state officials in 2015 for failing to meet minimum standards for building permits, construction inspections, and certificates of occupancy and for faiing to conduct mandated annual fire safety inspections. Ramapo didn't even keep records, the state said. Spring Valley was given a deadline -- which has come and gone.

Now the oversight officer will be charged with reviewing zoning applications and supporting documents in real time and reporting on findings and deficiencies in applications that have caused problems in these communities.

“The recent Oakland fire is a sobering reminder of what's at risk when building, fire and zoning codes are not enforced," said Zebrowski, who has been calling for state action for years, requesting that they open a full 381 investigation into the Village and the Town of Ramapo for repeated failure to properly enforce zoning and fire codes.. "For the past three plus years, we have been working with our local fire officials and the Department of State documenting a pervasive lack of code enforcement in these municipalities. The State has opened up investigations and issued corrective orders during this process. Unfortunately, however, the situation has not yet improved. Inappropriate temporary certificates of occupancy, illegal trailers/schools and excessive variances are still rampant. I want to thank the Secretary of State and the Code Enforcement Division for taking this extraordinary step of further intervention. These monitors will provide an investigatory presence that will be able to report directly to the Secretary for corrective action. It is clear that the public has lost confidence in one of the most basic functions of a local government which is safe zoning and building enforcement. I am hopeful this process will restore safety in these communities and give fire officials and the public a new voice.”

Elected leaders in Ramapo and Spring Valley have been sent a memorandum of agreement to ensure that the oversight actually takes place.

"I am relieved that the State Department will finally provide oversight of what has evolved into a serious and dangerous situation. Reporting violations in real time and enforcing penalties will be a much-needed change in how business has been done for far too many years. Most importantly, mandatory and strong code enforcement ensures the safety of our residents and will save lives," said Jaffee.

SEE ALSO:

• Crackdown On Illegal Housing Urged
• Rockland Firefighters, Officials Call for State to Intervene in Ramapo, Spring Valley Code Enforcement
• Fire Captain Says Local Yeshivas Unsafe: VIDEO
• Op-Ed: Zebrowski Once Again Calls for State Takeover of Ramapo Building Depatment
• Yeshivas Drop Fight Against Rockland Fire Inspections

PHOTO: State Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski