Rockland Hits Spring Valley Code Violator With $39,250 Fine

SPRING VALLEY, NY — The Rockland County Office of Buildings and Codes, formed when New York State wrested control of Spring Valley's troubled safety code enforcement operation, has issued its first civil penalty.

Property owner Rony Joseph has been ordered to pay a $39,250 penalty for at least 17 hazardous code violations at 3 George St., where 24 people had been crammed in tiny, jerry-built living spaces.

The new Office of Buildings and Codes cited the property in February SEE: Rockland Reports 24 Living In Squalid, Hazardous House

“We hope this penalty sends a clear message to property owners in the Village of Spring Valley that we have zero tolerance for egregious violations putting lives at risk," said County Executive Ed Day. "If this landlord does not willingly pay the fine that has been imposed we will take swift legal action.”

The fine is due immediately, and if not received within 3o days, legal action will be commenced, county officials said.

“My office has been tasked with protecting the health and safety of village residents, visitors, and first responders and I’m confident our swift action against irresponsible property owners like this will accomplish that in time," said OBC Director Ed Markunas.

Rockland launched its temporary Office of Buildings and Codes Feb. 14, three months after the New York State Department basically deputized the county to handle code inspections and enforcement for the village.

The state order, the first of its kind in New York, came a day after the head of Spring Valley's building department and one of its inspectors were indicted in the investigation into the 2021 fatal fire at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults. The converted 1903 hotel in Spring Valley was destroyed in a massive blaze last March that killed firefighter Jared Lloyd and 79-year-old resident Oliver Hueston and injured about a dozen people. More than 100 people had to be saved. Lloyd, 35, was rescuing residents. He sent out a Mayday call from an upper floor before it collapsed, but he could not be reached.

The village has long been known for its lack of oversight and enforcement of building and safety codes. A state monitor was actually in place at the time of the fire and the village had been required to file reports with the state on code inspections and compliance actions. SEE: Village Hall Raided In Investigation Of Fatal Fire.

"The true bad apples of the Village Building Department which are under indictment, have not and will not be part of this process," Day said in January.

There were more than 800 overdue inspections. While county officials wouldn't get specific, they did point out that under state law places of public assembly are required to be inspected every year and certain kinds of local dwellings are inspectable every three years.

The Office of Buildings and Codes main office is on the 2nd Floor of Building A in the Robert Yeager Health Complex in Pomona. It has a small satellite office at Spring Valley Village Hall for village residents who can't easily get to Pomona. The satellite office is staffed by a clerk and certified code inspector to provide forms and answer questions but cannot issue permits.

There is a 30-day window to correct violations. Administrative Court would be the venue when and if fines are issued.

The Rockland County Office of Buildings and Codes encourages everyone to report hazardous conditions in the Village of Spring Valley. Complaints can be submitted by calling 1-845-364-3700 or emailing buildingsandcodes@co.rockland.ny.us.

Anyone found living in dangerous conditions will be referred to Rockland's Department of Social Services and/or three local non-profits which assist with that type of situation, a county spokesman said.

SEE ALSO:

• Lawmakers Finalize Rockland Takeover Of Village Code Enforcement
• Rockland Puts Spring Valley Inspectors Through Hours Of Training
• Rockland's New Codes Office Targets Illegal, Unsafe Nightclub
• Rockland Enforcement Office Finds 19 Violations At 2 Companies
• Site Of Apartment Fire Full Of Safety Violations: County
• Code Enforcement Issues 60+ Garbage Violations