Five new laws were put on the books in Lynbrook after being approved by the Board of Trustees on Jan. 13. Each of the laws were unanimously approved, 4-0, as Trustee Hilary Becker was ill an unable to attend.
Tax cap option
The board gave itself the option to adopt a budget for the 2014 fiscal year that exceeds tax-cap. In order for the budget to pass, three out of five members of the board must approve the budget.
It has passed similar local laws in 2012 and 2013. The board will adopt its budget in April, so this law had to be put on the books ahead of time.
Search warrants
A new law to give code enforcement officials more grounds to apply for administrative search warrants was granted in an effort streamline the reduction of illegal over-occupancies, or other instances where a violation of the Village Code may be taking place, or has taken place.
Now, when a property owner denies a code enforcement official access to their home when there is suspicion of a illegal over-occupancy, the official can apply for an administrative search warrant to the Village Justice Court. If a judge approves the warrant, a police officer would execute it and may be accompanied by a code enforcement official to help assist.
Hotel licenses
Hotel owners will now be held under stricter guidelines after a law was passed stating that they are responsible for their guest’s conduct. The law outlines several violations that hotel owners can now be held accountable for, which include a guest dealing drugs or using a controlled substance on the premises, engaging in unlawful conduct involving weapons or ammunition, or using the premises for any unlawful purpose.
If there are three violations in a three-month span, the village board has the right to suspend or revoke the owner’s hotel license. There would be a public hearing before a hotel license is revoked.
Fingerprinting
Prospective village employees, or workers seeking a promotion, especially those who will work with the village’s finances, will now be fingerprinted during the screening process.
Now, applicants or employees in line for a promotion will have their fingerprints cross-referenced and the board or village administrator will take past convictions into account when making a decision.
Electronic signs
No illuminated sign containing changing or scrolling messages shall be permitted unless each separate message remains displayed for a period of at least seven seconds before changing.
