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Babylon Town rescinds residency requirement for Town Attorney The Town of Babylon has approved amending Town code prohibiting the Town Attorney from living outside of the Town of Babylon. The change will permit the Town's Deputy Town Attorney and prosecutor for its Quality of Life Task Force, Paul Margiotta, to continue to serve in his newly appointed post as Town Attorney. He replaces Dennis Cohen, who was elected to the bench in November. A similar move by the Town of Islip has become politically charged, and raised objections from the Town's Republicans after being offered by the newly elected Democrat Town majority, led by Supervisor Phil Nolan. In Babylon, the move has not generated similar controversy, however, and the change was, in fact, proposed by Councilman Lindsay Henry, who first ran as the Independence and Republican candidate. Henry said that the change is similar to many already in place in other municipalities across the state, and makes sense, and serves residents and taxpayers. "He (Margiotta) has an outstanding record of service to this Town as a special prosecutor, and gained a lot of experience in that role," said Henry. "It just makes no sense to discount a very well qualified person who knows this Town so well from serving as Town Attorney simply because of where he lives." Another reason the issue may be politically deflated in Babylon is because Margiotta is a registered Republican. He was hired by the Town when it established its Quality of Life task force several years ago and ushered that department through its first years, addressing issues that impact on communities such as building and zoning code violations. In other business, the Town: •approved emergency boarding up of an "unsafe" structure at 38 Woodland Rd., Wyandanch. The home has been the subject of numerous disturbances, in which police were called, and is littered with debris, "presenting an imminent danger to the safety, health and welfare of the surrounding community residents," said Town officials. In addition, the Town approved boarding up of premises at 501 Farmingdale Rd.; 129 16 St., and 347 Manhattan Ave., West Babylon and 400 Albany Ave., Amityville; siting unsafe conditions at those locations; •amended the Town code for shellfish, that among other things limits the size of oysters to not less than three inches; limits the size of bay scallops measuring at least two and one quarter inches which must be taken form underwater between the first Monday in November through March 31 only; •amended the code for towing in the Town to prohibit one individual from acquiring several towing licenses under different corporations or businesses, and sets other "reasonable fees" that licensed towing operators may charge. •approved salary increases for the Town Clerk and Receiver of Taxes of $12,550 annually, from $67,450, to $80,000.
The next Babylon TownBoard meeting will be held Tues., March 4, 3:30 p.m., Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Hwy., Lindenhurst.
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