Riverhead: Suffolk using motel illegally

Riverhead town officials said a motel that Suffolk County has been using as temporary housing for homeless families has been operating illegally because it lacks a rental permit.

The town and hotel owner Anthony Marino, whose company purchased the Wading River Motel in January, have been entangled in a legal fight over reissuing the permit.

Suffolk County Social Services Commissioner Gregory Blass said his staff chose the motel, which passed county inspection, to help families whose children attend nearby schools in Riverhead, William Floyd, Rocky Point and Longwood.

"We strive now to keep the children of these families in their school district," Blass said. "They are primarily children who need a home."

As part of the permit process, Riverhead officials are looking into complaints of overcrowding, illegal renovations and fire code violations, said deputy town attorney William Duffy. The property was also cited in May for operating without a town-issued rental permit, he said.

On Friday night, the town conducted a surprise inspection that angered county social services officials and alarmed many of the 40 adults and 59 children living in the 32-unit motel.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter said his staff, including police officers, took the action as part of an investigation that started because of concerns from area residents.

"We have been getting complaints on a whole host of issues, from code violations to 'I don't want this in my backyard,' " Walter said. "We are not targeting the people. We are just trying to make sure the building is safe."

Marino, who said families have been housed at the motel since April, said he would have granted the town access without the need for a search warrant.

"We have been doing everything from day one as far as obtaining permits and the town just has not cooperated with us," Marino said.

But Duffy said the existing permit didn't transfer to Marino when he bought the motel and he needed to apply for a new one. Marino had not done so before renting the rooms to the county.

The town said police calls to the motel rose from seven in the past six months of 2010 to 37 between January and June.

Blass, who criticized Friday's raid, said the spike in calls can be expected because the property was vacant before its sale.

The municipality has not yet disclosed the findings of its search. The investigation is expected to be completed in about two weeks, Duffy and Walter said.

Suffolk County is using 12 motels to supplement its 52 shelters, because the homeless population has increased as the recession caused people to lose their jobs and homes, Blass said.

The Department of Social Services said there are 1,556 homeless people in the county -- more than half of them children. In 2007, there were 1,050. Wading River is the only motel that accommodates homeless people in Riverhead.