Department of Public Works FAQs

Potholes are created when moisture seeps into the pavement, freezes, expands and then thaws. This weakens the pavement. Traffic loosens it even more, and it eventually crumbles and pops out.

Spring temperatures warm the cold pavement, melting and evaporating any ice. This creates air pockets that can eventually cause the pavement to break up. A winter of heavy snow or rain and several freeze-thaw cycles can mean a big pothole season ahead.

Yes, based on age, usage patterns and weather conditions.

All complaints regarding potholes should be reported to Citizen Services, (631) 957-7474 or 3-1-1. Reports should include the location of the pothole such as the street address and the cross street name and/or intersection, as well as the complainant's name, address and phone number.

During the winter months, a temporary “cold patch” is used to fill potholes. This is a temporary measure until a more permanent solution, such as asphalt, can be used. Asphalt can only be poured when the weather is more than 50 degrees. When needed, town employees will fix potholes repaired with a “cold patch” once the temperature is above 50 degrees.

There are three options that the Town utilizes to make the most cost-effective and longest lasting solution depending on the specific situation. The three options include micropaving, overlaying or complete road reconstruction:

• Micropaving - an application of a thin layer of asphalt, designed to seal and extend the life span of the roadway; takes 1 day.
• Overlay - the application of a thick layer of asphalt designed to increase the load carrying ability of the pavement; work staged over a course of weeks.
• Reconstruction - a complete rebuilding of the entire pavement structure; work staged over a course of months.

Your road may have been selected for repaving. If so, it is probably because of the overall condition of the road as well as the need to improve the drainage system. Please be aware that the entire reconstruction process may take approximately two months, weather permitting, to complete. The reconstruction process is extensive and involves many separate steps. The first step is to remove any obstacles to reconstruction including sidewalks, curbing, driveway aprons, telephone poles, and, in some cases, trees. During the reconstruction process, we may, unfortunately, be forced to remove some healthy trees. The Town of Babylon is very dedicated to the preservation of trees and will only remove a tree as a last resort. Trees will be removed for the following reasons:

1. Roots are uplifting the road
2. Roots are interfering with a drainage basin
3. The tree is in the boundaries of the proposed road expansion (Federal and State guidelines dictate how wide a street must be)
4. The condition of the tree jeopardizes public safety (roots that are cut or damaged compromise the integrity of the tree which could in turn become a public safety issue)
5. The tree is diseased or dead

During working hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm), your street will be open, but at times access may be limited. Please do not leave any vehicles parked in the roadway during working hours. If possible, park on the nearest cross street not under improvement, a minimum of 100 feet from the corner. Please adjust your plans for deliveries and other daily functions. During non-working hours, you will have unlimited access to your street. Pre-construction photos have been taken of your driveways and Town right-of ways (shoulder areas) to assist the contractor in the restoration phase of the project. Please contact the Office of Citizen Services at (631) 957-TOWN (8696) to answer any inquiries you may have. Your road has been selected for reconstruction due to the overall condition of the road as well as to upgrade the drainage system. Please be aware that the entire reconstruction process may take approximately two months, weather permitting, to complete. Although it is a long process, you will have access to your road throughout the entire reconstruction process, with limited exceptions. The end result of this work will be a brand new road for you and your neighbors.

DPW works closely with the Highway Engineering Division regarding road maintenance and repair. Items taken into account include previous road condition, recent data, traffic patterns and usage in order to decide the best course of road maintenance action. The Town strives to repair and repave roads on a regular basis and looks for the most cost-effective and permanent solution. Options for repair include micropaving, overlaying and complete reconstruction.

Micropaving seals the existing cracks and crevices in a roadway. Once those imperfections are sealed, it is possible to see standing water as it can no longer drain into the cracks.

When an agency other than the Town needs to open a Town road to perform construction work, the Town issues a road opening permit. Possible permitees include Suffolk County Water Authority, LIPA, National Grid, State, County, and other Governmental Agencies. The permit notes and acknowledges the agency's responsibility to conduct the construction work in accordance with the State and Federal requirements as called for in Town Code. Markouts are required for any work more than one foot below the surface. The Town does not inspect the work but does hold security in the form of a bond or cash for a period of two (2) years. This is only released upon inspection that the work has stood the test of two (2) years time. If an agency works on a road located within the Town, but not owned by the Town (State or County roads) there is no requirement for a permit.

The widening of a driveway does not require a permit except if the curb is being cut. A street opening application must be obtained from the Department of Public Works This application must be submitted by a contractor who is licensed and insured.

A private road is a road that has been created by a private developer and not by the Town. As such, services and amenities for that road may vary from those that are developed and managed by the Town of Babylon.

Private roads are not serviced by the Town in any way but are the responsibility of the property owner. These services can include, but are not limited to, snow plowing, street cleanup, street repairs, etc.

Landowners may submit a request into the Highway Division to make a private road into a public Town road. Private roads must meet dedicated road standards in order to become Town roads. The Highway Division would confer with the Town Board if such a road would benefit a majority of Town residents. The Town Board, on its own motion, may adopt a resolution to accept such a road. It is also up to the Board to NOT have the expense of making such a public Town road be borne by ALL residents of the Town, but only by the property owners adjoining the proposed new Town road. In that case, the Town Board would respectfully decline the proposal. By law, owners of real estate fronting on a private road may petition the Town Board to make necessary improvements to qualify the road to be accepted as town highway. If after a public hearing the Town Board agrees, then all costs for the improvement must be borne by the property owners on the basis of the benefit to their property.

Sidewalk maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner. Any work to an existing sidewalk or curb can be completed at the homeowner’s expense without a permit.

The installation of new sidewalks or curbs requires a permit by the Town’s Highway Engineering Division. Please contact Citizen Services at (631) 957-TOWN (8696) for information on obtaining a permit. Note: If you do not have a curb and are installing Belgian blocks in place of a curb, you do not need a permit.

According to the Town of Babylon Town Code 191-1, Keeping Sidewalks Clear, every owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or anyone in charge of any property within the Town shall remove snow, ice, dirt or any other object or material from any improved sidewalk between the property line and the curb line within four (4) hours after snow has ceased to fall or after the deposit of any dirt, object or other material placed upon a sidewalk, unless it falls between the hours of 9:00 pm and 7:00 am. In the event that the snow or ice on the sidewalk is frozen and unable to be removed, the person in charge of that property shall place either ashes, sand, sawdust or similar-like material on the frozen sidewalk. Furthermore, as soon as the weather permits, that said owner shall thoroughly clean the sidewalk of that additional debris. The owner or person responsible for the sidewalk is also liable for any personal injury and property damage as a result of the failure to remove any snow, ice, dirt or any other object/material from the sidewalk.

Trees that are located on Town property or a Town right-of-way (generally 6-8 feet from the roadside curb) are considered to be Town trees. As such, these are the responsibility of the Town and will be maintained and/or removed by the Town. The Town is very dedicated to the preservation of trees and will only remove a tree as a last resort or during road reconstruction projects.

The Town is very dedicated to the preservation of trees and will only remove a tree as a last resort or during road reconstruction projects. A tree may be removed for the following reasons:

1. Roots are uplifting the road
2. Roots are interfering with a drainage basin
3. The tree is in the boundaries of the proposed road expansion (Federal and State guidelines dictate how wide a street must be)
4. The condition of the tree jeopardizes public safety (roots that are cut or damaged compromise the integrity of the tree which could in turn become a public safety issue)
5. The tree is diseased or dead

No tree shall be planted within the sidewalk area in front of or adjacent to any private premises except trees whose root systems normally will not cause damage to sidewalks, curbs or utility installations. Trees of the following varieties should be planted:

• Sugar Maple
• Northern Red Oak
• Scarlet Oak
• Pin Oak
• American Linden
• Silver Linden
• Moraine Honey Locust
• Moraine Flowering Dogwood
• Red Flowering Dogwood
• Japanese Dogwood
• Goldenrain
• Sourwood
• Eastern Plane

The Town of Babylon will remove any tree, regardless of roadway jurisdiction, if the fallen tree obstructs a roadway.

Contact the Office of Citizen Services at 631-957-7474 or 3-1-1. A service request will be sent to DPW to schedule an inspection of the tree. Inspections include gathering information on location, degree of nuisance, existing workload, health of the tree, other existing problems and if the sidewalk has been lifted by more than two inches. If warranted, repairs will be scheduled and expedited as soon as possible.

Each case is different depending on location, degree of nuisance and workload. The Town tries to expedite each complaint as quickly as possible. Each tree complaint that comes in must be located and scheduled for inspection. The inspection determines whether or not the tree is dead, has other problems or has lifted the sidewalk by more that two inches.

All concerns about tree interference should be directed to Citizen Services, (631) 957-TOWN (8696). Residents are encouraged to submit a letter to Citizen Services written by a certified engineer that describes the situation. The case will be assigned to a caseworker and given priority.

Contact PSEG at 1-800-490-0075 . During a storm/emergency response situation, PSEG will remove/trim the necessary portions of trees in order to conduct the associated work. These trees will be cut/trimmed and, depending on the location of the tree (rear yard or front yard), neatly stacked in a logistically appropriate area of the customer’s premises. It is the responsibility of either the homeowner or the municipality (Town or Village) in which they live to remove the tree debris.

Send all insurance cancellation correspondence to the Citizen Services Office where it will be assigned to a caseworker and given priority. For more information, please call (631) 957-TOWN (8696).

All concerns about infested trees should be directed to the Town’s Department of Environmental Control at (631) 422-7640. A Town employee will be dispatched to the area and survey the specimen and tree in question.

The Asian Long Horn Beetle is about an inch long and has defined black and white spots. It has very long antennae, which extend out to be longer than the beetle. They make unmistakable holes in the tree as they bore out of it once they mature out of the larval stage.

To report signs or symptoms of the Asian longhorned beetle, please call the New York ALB Eradication Program toll free at (866) 265-0301 or 877-STOP-ALB.

Most of the south shore of Long Island is considered a low level marsh land with the entire shore front area approximately one or two feet above sea level.  When these areas were developed for commercial and residential purposes more than 70 years ago, most roads and buildings were built without the concern for erosion or flooding.  Drainage pipes were built underground in the bays and canals along the shore line, which causes many of the stormwater runoff concerns we have today. When the south shore experiences heavy rain, flooding is expected to occur. As the rainwater floods the bays and canals, salt water floods over the bulkheads and causes additional flooding damage on roads and properties. In addition to flooding above ground, the salt water is pushed back into the drainage pipes underground, causing a surge within the pipes and overflow. All of this surge of water, both rain and salt water, adds to the contamination of the Great South Bay. FEMA has designated most of the area as an AE6 Flood Zone, which means that anything less than six feet above sea level is prone to flooding. To find out if you live in a flood zone in Suffolk County, check out the online map at Suffolk County Flood Maps. 

All storm water basin issues should be reported to the Office of Citizen Services at 631-957-7474 or 3-1-1 . The Town will schedule an inspection of the affected area 24 hours after the next rain event. At that time, the inspection will investigate the storm drain for blockage, damage, etc. If it is determined the storm drain is blocked, a service request will be created and the drain will be scheduled to be cleaned.

When Suffolk County installed storm sewers in areas along the south shore 20 years ago, some roads were raised a few feet and drainage was improved. This also helped to solve many of the flooding problems in the area with the exception of flooding as a result of nor'easter storms and hurricanes. Raising the grade in an entire area is impossible for any village, town or county to accomplish for budgetary reasons, but homeowners and business owners are encouraged to make grade and drainage improvements on their own properties.

The Town does not accept road flooding complaints during a storm but requests that residents wait 24 hours before reporting a flood. If after 24 hours the street is still flooded, please contact the Office of Citizen Services at 631-957-7474 or 3-1-1.

Flood Zones are geographic areas that FEMA has defined according to varying levels of flood risk. These zones are depicted on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map or Flood Hazard Boundary Map. Each zone reflects the severity or type of flooding in an area.

Most of the south shore of Long Island is considered a low level marsh land. A dynamic map of the areas that are considered flood zones can be found online at Suffolk County Flood Maps.

The Town has recently requested that local Federal and State elected officials make dredging of the inlets along the south shore a priority using stimulus money. Dredging is an excavation activity in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering bottom sediments and disposing them at a different location. Dredging the inlets would serve to remediate contaminants that are in our inlets as a result of stormwater surges.

Over the course of time, the Town has experimented with a number of solutions to mitigate the flooding concerns along our south shore. Unfortunately, much was met without success. Flapper valves were installed on the water side of several drainage pipes only to have them seal up in the closed position with marine life causing flooding during normal rain events. These valves require a lot of maintenance and, since there are potentially thousands of locations that these can be installed, this is not a feasible solution. At one time, duckbill valves were mounted on the outside of Town controlled bulkheads to prevent contaminations due to the backflow of water. A duckbill valve is generally made out of rubber and shaped like the beak of a duck. They are more costly than flapper valves and boats tended to break them off when docking. In addition, they also had a tendency to freeze in the winter, which makes them non-viable solutions. In certain areas, the Town built catch basins that serve to hold stormwater in rain events. However, because of the high water table, the catch basins are often ½ full most of the time causing a mosquito problem (so they don't work in every area). The Town is committed to developing new and affordable solutions for the flooding problems along the shore line and will work with the residents and businesses in those areas.

Residents and business owners in flood zones are strongly advised to purchase flood insurance. Actions you can take to insure personal items are not destroyed by flooding include:

• Keeping items off of the ground, especially in basements and garages, and raised to a higher elevation
• Improving the grading issues on personal property

Yes, there are emergency shelters throughout the Town, but they are not always open during every storm. If there is a severe storm in the area, residents are urged to listen to the local radio stations for shelter location information. The Department of Emergency Preparedness has more information about what to do during natural disasters or storms, including where to locate designated emergency shelters.

The Town defines graffiti as an inscription, figure, mark or design which is written, scratched, painted or drawn on a wall, building, monument, statue, rock or any other surface of real or personal property.

Yes. Any person who violates the Town's graffiti code shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

Graffiti contributes to a decrease in property values and the deterioration of the quality of life in a community. Well-kept public and private properties promote livability, community appearance, and public safety.

The Town will assist with the removal of graffiti when it is on Town property but not when it is on private property.

The Town aims to remove all graffiti within 48 business hours of receipt of notification.

Graffiti is a crime. If you see a graffiti crime in progress, please dial 911. For existing graffiti on Town property, call the Office of Citizen Services at 631-957-7474 or 3-1-1.

All requests for the removal of graffiti on Town property are responded to by making an inspection of the site and, if suspicious or suggestive of gang activity, referred to the Suffolk County Police Department. The Police Department requests to be alerted to any possible gang activity, often reflected by graffiti tags. The Town will then remove the graffiti within 48 business hours. If the graffiti is on personal or private property, the service request gets forwarded to Code Enforcement for an inspection and determination of a violation. If in violation, the property owner is given a warning and 20 days to remove the graffiti. If no action is taken by the property owner, a summons is issued and the Town will prosecute this violation to the fullest extent of the law.

The Town's Leaf Program distributes leaf bags to residents each Fall. When the bags are full, they are placed on the curb with other yard waste and collected on a regularly scheduled yard waste pick-up day. Leaf bags are used to collect leaves that fall off of Town trees onto yards and roadways adjacent to private property.

During the last week of October through the first week of November, leaf bags are packaged and distributed by DPW employees to each Town of Babylon resident and property owner. Once full, residents are asked to place the leaf bags curbside for collection during their regularly scheduled yard waste collection.

Additional leaf bags are available to Town residents (while they last) at the Department of Public Works leaf program trailer located at 1023 North Indiana Avenue in Lindenhurst. 

The Town's Lot Cleanup program is an umbrella program that includes service requests relating to overgrown grass, debris, abandoned houses, board-ups or clean ups, lot cleanups and other "quality of life" property complaints. The complaint can involve private, town, or other public agency-owned property. If the complaint involves town property, it will usually be cleaned up within a week of notification. If the complaint involves private property where there is debris or other material left on the curbside, the Town will attempt to contact the property owner to remove it immediately. If not taken care of, the Town will schedule a cleanup by Town staff and bill the property owner for the expenses. The purpose of the program is to educate property owners as to the requirements of specific property responsibilities, not to issue summonses. The first effort is always to obtain code compliance.

All requests are made through the Office of Citizen Services at (631) 957-TOWN (8696). Once a request is received, it is forwarded to Code Enforcement or the Office of Sanitation for investigation. If in violation, a Notice of Violation is placed on the door of the home, or if there is nowhere to leave the notice (such as with vacant property), it is mailed, registered mail, to the owner of the property. The property owner has a period of 5 days to cure the situation. A reinspection will be conducted just beyond the 5 day cure period. If the violation is not corrected, the Town will clean the property and bill the cost of this work to the property owner and if not paid will be transferred to the property’s tax bill. This is a legally binding lien (debt that stays with the property until paid). Suffolk County is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of all County properties. Constituents are encouraged to call (631) 853-5941 about neglected county lots.

Town sumps are cleaned internally on a regular basis. Residents are encouraged to call Citizen Services, (631) 957-TOWN (8696), for those sumps that need an immediate cleaning. Winter Brothers, a third party contractor, has been retained to maintain the sump’s surrounding area. Each sump has this contact information located on a plaque posted to the bordering fence. Winter Brothers can be contacted at (516) 937-0900.

As part of an ongoing effort to improve the quality of life for Town residents, the Town is attempting to upgrade, enhance and beautify all Town-owned sumps. This is an ongoing process and resource-dependant. Therefore, it is not possible to provide a schedule of when improvements will be made to a specific sump location. The ultimate goal is to address all Town sumps by selecting them randomly in areas throughout the Town. Improvements include clean-ups, plantings and privacy fence treatments. Sumps owned by the State, County or surrounding villages, are not part of the Town's Sump Beautification Program. Many sumps are owned and maintained by other agencies including the State, County and Villages.

Once a complaint or request is received, it is forwarded to Code Enforcement or the Office of Sanitation for investigation. If there is found to be a violation, a Notice of Violation is placed on the door of the home or mailed, registered mail, to the owner of the property. The property owner has a period of five (5) days to rectify the property violation. A re-inspection will be conducted after this point and if the violation still exists, the Town will either complete it using town workers or arrange to have the work completed. The cost of the work will either be billed to the property owner or transferred to the property owner’s tax bill.

To dispute a Notice of Violation, property owners must contact the Office of Waste Management at (631) 422-7670 or write to the Sanitation Commission at 281 Phelps Lane, Room 19, North Babylon, NY 11703. The Sanitation Commission meets on the first Thursday of each month in the Town Board Room located in Town Hall. All disputes must be received within 60 days of the date of the initial bill. If a request for a hearing is not accomplished in this timeframe, the property owner loses the right to appeal or dispute a violation. The dispute is then scheduled for the next available Sanitation Commission meeting; attendance is mandatory. Hearing adjournments are rarely granted, unless a hardship is demonstrated. The purpose of presenting a dispute at the Sanitation Commission hearing is for the property owner to present their case and the reasons why the bill is in error. A decision will be rendered within 10 days and the owner notified by mail. Property owners have a one-time option of appealing a decision.

Each street is scheduled for sweeping four times a year. Each home is included in one of the eighteen sweeping zones and generally, the sweeps occur in early Spring, Summer and Fall. Circled numbers on the Trash and Recycling Calendar correspond to Sweep Zones in the program. If a sweep day is missed for any reason, the makeup day is usually the Friday of that week. There are two scheduled street sweeps for the Spring season, usually the first in April and the second in May.

If a public or town tree was damaged due to a storm, the Town's tree crew will remove that tree. The Town is responsible for picking up Town property storm debris only and not private trees or storm debris. All calls regarding damaged trees should be directed to Citizen Services, (631) 957-TOWN (8696). The Town's Department of Public Works will determine if it is a removal, trim, or if no action is needed.

All Town beaches open to the public on Memorial Day weekend. Town crews maintain all Town beaches and start work prior to opening day. The Parks & Recreation Department is responsible for the maintenance of all bathroom facilities at Town beaches. Contact the Town's Parks & Recreation Department for more information, (631) 893-2100.

The Town of Babylon Department of Public works is responsible for plowing all snow on Town-owned roads. When necessary, the Town augments it's own work force with private plow contractors. There are approximately 550 miles of Town owned roads. There are also hundreds of miles of County, State and Village roads. Those agencies are responsible for plowing and removing snow and ice from these roads.

Snow is plowed as quickly as possible. Plowing and sanding/salting begins as soon as there is an inch of snow on the pavement surfaces. The schedule varies with the more traveled streets being addressed as priorities.

Snow plowing begins when over an inch of snow or ice covers the roadways.

Yes, the Town uses a mixture of sand and salt to treat icy sections of roadways.

No, the Town does not remove or plow snow from private driveways.

All inquiries regarding snow plowing should be sent to Citizen Services, (631) 957-TOWN (8696).

According to the Town Code 191-1 (Keeping Sidewalks Clear), "every owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or anyone in charge of any property within the Town shall remove snow, ice, dirt or any other object or material from any improved sidewalk between the property line and the curb line within four (4) hours after snow has ceased to fall or after the deposit of any dirt, object or other material placed upon a sidewalk, unless it falls between the hours of 9:00 pm and 7:00 am". In the event that the snow or ice on the sidewalk is frozen and can't be removed, the person in charge of that property shall place either ashes, sand, sawdust or similar-like material on the frozen sidewalk. Furthermore, as soon as the weather permits, the owner should thoroughly clean the sidewalk of that additional debris. The person responsible for the sidewalk is also liable for any personal injury and property damage as a result of the failure to remove any snow, ice, dirt or any object from the sidewalk.

All streetlight repair requests should be directed to the Office of Citizen Services at 631-957-7474 or 3-1-1. The service request will be logged into the Town's repair system and forwarded to the appropriate staff within the Street Lighting Division.

All concerns regarding malfunctioning or broken streetlights should be directed to Citizen Services, (631) 957-TOWN (8696).

The Village of Amityville has their own lighting inspector but occasionally works with the Town of Babylon to handle service requests in the village. Requests originating from Amityville village should be routed to the Village of Amityville first.

The Town will work with community agencies to rectify multi-jurisdictional issues. However, the Town does not handle requests from private communities such as trailer parks, condominiums or those involving private roads.

All sign requests should be made to the Office of Citizen Services at 631-957-7474 or 3-1-1 or by using this online form. Requests for new signs (or other traffic devices) will be submitted to the Traffic Safety Committee for review and analysis. The Committee will then, if warranted, submit the application to Traffic Engineering. Traffic Engineering will then do a site study and make a recommendation on the request. This may take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. The Traffic Safety Committee will make a decision based on a review of the original request application and the engineering site study. The recommendation then goes to the Town Board and a hearing is scheduled. Once the hearing is held the Town will consider a resolution at the next Town Board meeting to finalize the process and effectuate the change. This entire process may take several months before a final decision is rendered.

The Suffolk County Police Department will notify the Town of a sign that is either damaged or down completely due to an accident. The Town will then take the necessary steps to repair the sign. In other cases, the Town will alert other government agencies if it receives a request regarding a sign that is not in its jurisdiction of responsibility.

All damaged signs should be reported to the Office of Citizen Services at 631-957-7474 or 3-1-1. Reports of damaged or missing traffic signs are then sent to the Traffic Safety Division, (631) 957-3106 or the Traffic Sign Shop, (631) 957-3104. Reports should include the location of the missing or damaged sign such as the address and the cross street name and/or intersection. The Town is responsible for responding to such reports within two hours of receipt and then correcting the situation within 72 hours.

Damaged sign requests are attended to as quickly as possible and are usually responded to within 48 business hours.

Yes, streets can be co-named. All street renaming requests should be made to the Office of Citizen Services at 631-957-7474 or 3-1-1. 

For a general power outage, call PSEG: 1-800-490-0075. If an electrical line is down, stay away and contact PSEG at 1-800-490-0075 or visit the PSEG website.

The Suffolk County Sewer District generally covers all homes in the Town of Babylon that lie south of Southern State Parkway. For specific questions you can contact your local Suffolk County legislator. You can find out who your legislator is on the Suffolk County Legislature’s website: https://www.scnylegislature.us/.

If a pole has been knocked down, immediately call the Suffolk County Police at (631) 854-8100. They will coordinate among agencies to ensure that the condition is corrected as soon as possible.

The Town is responsible for manhole covers on most Town roads. Some Town roads contain Suffolk County covers, however, and need to be verified once a problem is reported. New York State is responsible for manhole covers on State roads. For specific questions on location responsibilities, call the Department of Public Works or Citizen Services at (631) 957-TOWN (8696).

Water main breaks should be reported to the Suffolk County Water Authority, (631) 582-2211 or (631) 665-0663.

Fire hydrant problems should be reported to the Suffolk County Water Authority, (631) 582-2211 or (631) 665-0663.

All problems with sewer lines between your home and the street can be addressed at the Suffolk County Southwest Sewer District, (631) 854-4150.

Downed cable or phone lines should be reported to PSEG at 1 (800) 490-0075.

All concerns regarding abandoned property should be directed to the Office of Citizen Services at 631-957-7474 or 3-1-1 . The Town will schedule an inspection of the property in question. The Town will make every effort to ensure that the property is secure and safe for the public. All costs associated with securing the property will be at the property owner’s expense. If necessary, the Town will send a cleanup or violation correction notice to the property owner. The property owner has at least five days to respond. If the clean up notice is not responded to in a timely manner, The Town will schedule a cleanup and bill the property owner for the associated costs. If not paid promptly, charges (including late penalties) will appear on the property owner’s next tax bill. If the house is in need of board up and/or demolition or other measure that actually requires a handling of the structure, the process is more complex. For those violations, a Town Board resolution is passed and a legal notice sent to the property owner. The property owner has 30 days to comply with requirements of the notice. If compliance is not made in this period the Town can take appropriate (i.e. board up or demolition) action against the property in violation. This process can take several months while utilities are contacted for service turnoffs and mark outs for underground utility lines, pipes etc. are prepared. In some cases, depending on the legal and safety issues associated with the particular situation, interim measures may be initiated. This requires definition and approval by the Town Board and Town Attorney. Escalation will occur on a case-by-case basis.

All such complaints or inquiries should be directed to the Town’s Office of Citizen Services at 631-957-7474 or 3-1-1. If eviction debris becomes a community nuisance, the Town will schedule an inspection. If necessary, the Town will send a clean up/ violation correction notice to the property owner. The property owner has five days to respond. If the clean up notice is not responded to in a timely manner, the Town will schedule a clean up or arrange to remove it and bill the property owner of record. If not paid promptly, charges will show up on the property owner’s next tax bill.