Brockport officials close down ‘party-house’

Following an investigation by police and an inspection by Brockport’s Code Enforcement Officer, a house at 141 Holley Street, Brockport, was closed.

"It’s unfortunate that we had to displace six individuals," Enforcement Officer Scott Zarnstorff said. "But I think the message has been driven home that we are serious about safety."

Zarnstorff and his staff have spent the past month, he said, working with the police department in their efforts to deal with house parties. "If the police enter a house with conditions that seem to warrant our review, we are called in," Zarnstorff said.

The house on Holley Street had enough hazardous conditions to warrant its closure, he said. "We’ve met with the property owner and discussed the items that need to be done to rehab the property and get it back up to code," he said.

Zarnstorff said that the efforts of the police department to crack down on illegal, underage drinking parties and the code enforcement officer's inspections of properties that harbor hazardous conditions are making living conditions better in the village. "The word is out and our efforts are paying off," he said.

Mayor Josephine Matela praised Zarnstorff and the police for their efforts in cleaning up the village. "We went to the college after this incident and did some radio interviews where we addressed safety issues," she said. "We are adamant about enforcing the laws of this village."

Resident Brad Mitchell thanked the village for taking care of the problem on Holley Street but pointed out that the village needs stronger code enforcement laws. Mitchell, who presented board members with pictures of other eyesore homes throughout the village, said, "I’ve been a member of SPARTAC for a while now and we need more teeth in our code enforcement laws."

Mitchell pointed out that a couple of houses put their garbage out more than a week in advance of pick-up – usually the day after pick up. "They throw mattresses on the lawns and garbage on cars," he said.