By Leslie Gonzalez
Court hearing postponed
In a unanimous decision, the Lynbrook Village Board voted Monday night to amend its current Code of Electrical Standards instituting a five member review panel for the approval of electrical inspection companies. The change is designed to address instances where the previously designated even-numbered panel found itself in a "tie" vote regarding the approval of electrical inspection firms.
The decision addresses part of a recent lawsuit against the Village filed on behalf of Electrical Inspectors, Inc., an East Meadow electrical inspection company which claims that the Village's selection process has been unfair. The agency filed suit after the Village, in April, selected another firm, the New York Board of Underwriters Electrical Bureau, to perform inspections in Lynbrook. Village officials claim that their selection followed a tie vote by the review panel. Court arguments in that case, scheduled to begin this week, have been postponed until September 8.
In voicing their approval for the change in the review panel, Lynbrook Village Board members said that the addition of one more inspector, bringing the review panel composition to five, will now guarantee a majority vote, thus preventing future tie decisions. The electrical agency review board will now consist of four master electricians who must also be Lynbrook residents, and Lynbrook's Superintendent of Buildings Louis Bello. The new code also provides for a revolving renewal process for panel members: Each of the four electricians will be appointed to a four year period, with each member's term to end in a consecutive year.
The new legislation was presented by Village Attorney Peter Ledwith, as he addressed Mayor Eugene Scarpato and Lynbrook Board Members prior to their vote. Mr. Ledwith later described the decision for an odd-numbered panel as "an obvious need."
However, Electrical Inspectors Attorney Ronald Burke criticized the recent changes as an attempt by the Village Board to "pass the buck".
"The only issue is whether the Village will allow it's residents to get better service for less money," claims Mr. Burke, explaining that Lynbrook's Board members are ultimately the ones responsible to the residents, not an appointed review panel.
Court papers issued on behalf of Electrical Inspectors, Inc. also questioned the previous wording of Lynbrook's Code of Electrical Standards, which called for only one company at a time to perform electrical inspections in the village. Monday's revision upholds the previous two-year term policy, but allows for the appointment of a new company in every even-numbered year. Mr. Ledwith describes the move as a "consistency" measure with regards to quality control of inspections.
In accordance with the new changes, the Village Board will now extend its newly-appointed company start date, previously scheduled for this past July 1st, to a later date which will allow the five member team to conduct another vote for Lynbrook's next electrical inspection agency.
