Orient Builder Favors Creation of a Local Trades Council to Help Police Code Violators

Two local builders who attended Tuesday night’s meeting said that new technology isn’t going to fix a building department they say is rife with subjectivity, thus creating conflict regarding code compliance out in the field on a daily basis.

For nearly five years, members of the Southold Town Board have been working with those who work in the town’s building department to streamline the often-haphazard code enforcement process, according to Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell.

With the implementation of Municity, a software system that will allow building inspectors to keep track of who is building what in town by inputting data into a computer system from the field, town officials say they hope to make code enforcement easier for inspectors, builders and homeowners and to level the playing field between business and government regulation.

Cyril Lukeman, an Orient-based builder, said that though he appreciated the town’s effort in embracing a new technology, conflicts between builders and the town could be quelled with the formation of a local tradesmen council.

“The trades people need to get themselves together,” he said. “The neighbors complain and stop work orders happen. I can’t say the building department isn’t doing anything, but I believe there are certain replacements you can do to a home without a permit and there are gray areas. If people are improving their homes, we as a town should be grateful.”

Lukeman said he favored the reinstatement of a required town license for outside contractors, who often come into town and work without getting permits, thus making it cheaper to build, Lukeman said.

“That way we could create a trades council for ourselves and police ourselves,” he said.

Ron Morizzo, owner of in Cutchogue who said he gets a permit for everything, agreed that a town license would help but said he wants to see more activity out in the field from building inspectors.

“I see these guys drive by jobs all day every day and never stop,” said “And every time I bring it to the attention of the building department, I’m labeled a troublemaker. It’s time to get back to business.”

Morizzo went on to say that inspectors are not consistent with their judgments of what is a violation and what is not and that they have very little idea how much illegal building is being done over the weekends.

“Whole decks are being built and renovations are being done without permits — how do you not see that?” he said. “Get someone out there on a Saturday and Sunday and you’ll make at least $5,000 in fines looking around at what’s going on out there.”

Chief building inspector Mike Verity said later only that the department always responds to complaints and inspectors regularly spot violations out in the field. Zoning inspector Damon Rallis said Morizzo’s complaints are handled professionally and in a timely fashion.

“But unfortunately, when Mr. Morizzo visits the building department to file his complaints, he does so in a manner that is borderline abusive and demeaning,” Rallis added. “It is not his complaints that make him a ‘troublemaker,’ but the way he treats us.”

At the meeting Supervisor Russell said that Lukeman’s idea of a local trades council is an excellent one and said he would work with him on bringing the issue before the board. He added that given the current economic climate, it’s unlikely that the Town can hire any additional building inspectors.

Russell said he plans to meet with the building department this week to underscore the importance of using Municity efficiently.

“For five years, we’ve been focusing on improving code enforcement, but all the new tools in the world aren’t going to make the process better if they’re not willing to use them,” he said.