Approximately 50 residents attended the Hicksville Gardens Civic Association's (HGCA) Feb. 10 meeting, which took place in the Hicksville Public Library's Kenneth Barnes Community Room. At this time, John Paider of the Town of Oyster Bay's Illegal Housing Division was on hand to discuss an issue concerning many - illegal housing.

According to one resident, dealing with illegal housing is a "touchy issue." "You have people who are collecting the rent and are going to say I need the rent to live on, which is a point, but you have to pay for it," he said. "You have to pay your fair share in this world. And if you're getting a thousand dollars rent, you have to pay a little bit in taxes. It seems fair. I'm not saying don't get the rent; I'm just saying you have to pay the taxes. It's simple."

Hicksville resident Barbara Kitz defined illegal housing as a crisis and put the blame solely on the Town of Oyster Bay. "The Town of Oyster Bay has no enforcement," Kitz said. "They're a very lackadaisical government. They have things that are greater on their agenda than the current housing crisis."

A male resident from Hicksville blames both the town and homeowners. "My theory is to legalize them (two family housing) and to tax them, not to do away with them. As long as it's a single-family house and it's a family rental, I'm okay with it. If you're going to rent out your basement to a family, then pay the taxes," he said, adding, "The town should wake up. The situation has been around forever [and] the town does what it does best, which is nothing."

In an effort to address the issue, Paider said, "It sounds like the town doesn't do their job. Then the town can say the community doesn't do their job. In this particular aspect, it is something that has been created because people have looked the other way. You want to say the town looked the other way, you can say that. You want to say we never had the proper enforcement; maybe we never had the proper enforcement. But in either case, if people do not report to us, then there is really basically nothing we can do."

In order to adequately fix the problem, said Paider, everyone needs to work together. "Town and community have to work hand in hand on the issue. When we get complaints, we go into partnership with the people. You complain to the town. You tell us here is what you have to do, here's the problem and we take care of it. So the partnership really starts after we get compliance," he said.

Paider went on to detail exactly what constitutes illegal housing, specifying guidelines on second kitchens, locks, cellar and basement apartments and encouraged residents to report what they believe is illegal. Paider explained the town's new illegal housing complaint form and went over it with residents, encouraging them to be as specific as possible when they fill one out. Residents should explain on the form exactly why they believe there is illegal housing at the alleged site whether it is because of a garage or apartment, two kitchens, over crowding, boarding, unregistered vehicles and house deteriorating. In addition, multiple electrical heaters, doorbells and mailboxes can also be indicators of illegal housing.

"As much information as possible is important when filing a report or complaint," he said. "License plates are great. People take down license plate numbers and they submit them to us. We'll run it and we'll know whether it comes back to that house or not. "

While the person filing a complaint may wish to remain anonymous, Paider suggests that residents include their name and phone number so that someone can contact them if necessary. He stressed the fact that the Town of Oyster Bay will never divulge the name of the person who submitted the complaint. "I had a situation where somebody would say, 10 to 15 people living here - Broadway, Hicksville and leave off the [house] number. Anonymous. Then I'll get a second message 'you didn't respond to this house.' Anonymous. I can't find the place," he said.

After going over how the town investigates illegal housing and what the penalties are, Paider went on to discuss specific houses located in Hicksville that residents believe to be illegal. Residents were concerned about follow-ups on the property they report, stating that they never heard back from the town.

Henry Goessmann, president of the HGCA, said that he and John Paider will be in contact throughout the year and that in February 2006, Paider will be invited back to a HGCA meeting to discuss the town's actions over the past year. "We've got to stay on top of it. That's the only way we're going to fight this thing." Goessmann said, adding that the association would prefer that complaints come through the [civic] association first in an effort to keep a record. "Then we can say to John when he comes back next year that this is what we sent him over the year [and ask] what's happening with these cases? What's going on with this?" said Goessmann. "We're tying to develop some kind of action plan that can make this thing work. So next year, when we get together, we can say we put a dent it in."

One female resident who spoke at the meeting stressed her concern for those residents who could not stay in the community because they were unable to rent an illegal apartment. "I can understand really being upset about absentee landlords and people who rent to multiple families, but you know there's a real big problem in Nassau County for affordable housing. A lot of young people are moving away; they can't afford to buy the houses here. The only way they can stay is to rent out the basement or to rent out a room," she said, adding, "Ten to fifteen years down the road, if people can't afford to stay here, you're going to end up with companies moving out and no workers. You cause a problem. I'm not advocating to let anyone rent to anyone, but there's a big difference from someone who rents out a room or basement to help pay for the $500,000 house or an absentee landlord who's got it divided into twelve apartments."

Goessmann, who responded on behalf of the civic association said, "We as an association are not going after senior citizens, a renter in a basement, a college student or people trying to make ends meet. We know that a person needs some help. What we're talking about is a problem that is getting progressively worse and worse in Hicksville. It is where you have 10 people living in a house. These are the things we want to go after." He added, "We're going after these guys that are really taking advantage of our good nature. We have to be out there and be vigilant and watch what's gong on in our neighborhoods. We have to address it before it's too late and our property values go down."

The meeting concluded shortly thereafter and in an interview with the Hicksville Illustrated News, Paider said, "It's a serious issue. The town is going to take every step they can to keep this as a one-family town."

John Simonello, a member of the HGCA board, was pleased with the way the meeting went, specifically when it came to Paider's receptiveness to the community and vice versa. "Mr. Paider has a finger on the pulse of the community and is working with us. We had to get on the same page, and I think we're on the same page now," Simonello said. "You need to meet face to face to get on the same page. Telephone calls, written letters and emails really don't do it. You have to have what happened tonight; a town hall type meeting."