Westhampton Village To Address 'Hazardous' Private Property

Village of Westhampton Beach Mayor Conrad Teller said the village will give a private property owner 30 days to repair downed fence sections along Oneck Lane or they will do it for him because of the safety hazards it causes.

Discussion about the property, located at the corner of South Road and Oneck Lane, began when the village held its special meeting on Dec. 6. At issue are several sections of white fencing that have fallen down along Oneck Lane, giving children potential access to the property's back yard and improperly covered inground pool. The property is roughly 100 yards away from Westhampton Beach Elementary School.

According to the minutes of that Dec. 6 meeting, the owner of 72 South Road, Thomas McVann, had been issued tickets and summonses to fix the fencing but has not replied to them. McVann, a lawyer and business associate of imprisoned former Suffolk County Legis. George Guldi, has not made many public appearances in recent years, according to sources. He could not be reached for comment for this story.

The matter was closed for further discussion to take place at this month's village meeting, however, Mayor Teller said the village has decided to give McVann a timeline of 30 days to bring the property into compliance, otherwise the village DPW will make the repairs itself. Teller said they will attempt to put up something similar to what is still standing along the fence line. In the Dec. 6 minutes, developer Andrew Mendelsohn expressed concern that the fence might not match the village's aesthetics. He said a potential client canceled a real estate purchase on Oneck Lane because of the disrepaired condition of the house. 

The village has clearance to fix the fence because of the public danger not having the sections may pose. Mayor Teller told Patch the cost to repair the fence, which he estimated at around $500, will be absorbed by property taxes.