The Village of Mineola voted to adopt two local laws in two separate hearings last Wednesday night to give the village more control through its issuing of permits.

The first law adopted gives the board of trustees the power to regulate outdoor telephones, telephone booths, display racks and automated teller machines (ATM) on property outside of any Mineola buildings.

According to Mayor John P. Colbert, some Mineola pay phones have become used in less than desirable circumstances for illegal and illicit acts.

Furthermore, according to Special Investigator Walter Moloughney, many of these phones that have been erected throughout the village were done so without permission of the village.

In many cases these phones are not what they appear to be, and are not from Bell Atlantic as their visage would imply. "In some cases people have complained that they charge exorbitant amounts of money," said Moloughney.

So far 15 telephone booths have been taken off the streets.

In the public comment portion of the hearing there were no real objections, but rather some concerns. Resident Sal Cataldo expressed his hope that these measures do not drive the phones off the streets of Mineola and resident John Ferrara requested sufficient notice to business owners whose property will be near the site of the newly erected phone.

The law was approved unanimously. Now anyone interested in erecting a pay phone or an ATM must get a license pursuant to the village municipal code as well as a special permit from the board of trustees.

Colbert began his introduction of the second new law by saying that most people are "fair and square," however those who do work on their homes without purchasing a permit from the Village of Mineola, will be charged triple the cost of the permit once they are caught.

The law, entitled "Building Permits Fees and Certificate of Occupancy," provides that any person who performs work that would require a building permit, and does not acquire the permit before the work begins, is required to pay triple the original cost of the permit.

This time, Cataldo vocalized great disappointment in the proposal, stating that the practice would penalize a person twice. Cataldo suggested instead that the Village of Mineola should be enforcing its laws through both the building inspectors and the village court.

Resident Scott Fairgrieve countered with a vote in favor of the local law, stating that it was a good idea.

The board of trustees voted to approve the law unanimously.