By Maria Laina DiMartino
Village of Mineola residents recently raised concerns about accountability for property damage and fears about group homes operating within the village.
On Feb. 19, the Mineola Board of Trustees convened to approve motions and share upcoming community events. Public comment quickly shifted the meeting’s focus to a dispute over responsibility for property damage.
Dominick Fortino, a Mineola resident for over 40 years, spoke on property damage stemming from a recent accident on his street. He said a truck struck a gatehouse there, and he hoped to receive help in having it repaired. Fortino said he filed an online request and spoke with a public works employee, who told him the village was not responsible for paying for repairs.
Fortino said the accident caused visible damage and left him questioning whether the village, an insurance company or another party was financially liable. He said that similar situations in the past resulted in the village declining responsibility, leaving residents uncertain about how to proceed.
“I know the village didn’t want to take on the expenses in the past,” Fortino said. “Who should be held responsible?”
While no immediate resolution was announced, Mineola Mayor Paul Pereira said the village would review the situation to determine ownership of and legal responsibility for the gatehouse.
Concerns about group homes also emerged during the meeting. One resident alleged that individuals living in a nearby home were using drugs around children and engaging in disruptive behavior. She said the home’s presence has negatively impacted the neighborhood, and some of her neighbors are considering moving.
Tension escalated between the residents and board members following a heated exchange. During the discussion, a resident told Trustee Paul Cusato, “Shame on you,” after the board explained that it did not have the ability to ban marijuana consumption within the village.
Village officials emphasized that while they understand residents’ concerns, their authority is limited by law. State law permits medicinal and recreational use of marijuana.
“We can’t just go around kicking people out of their home if they’re following village rules,” Pereira said, explaining that village officials had visited the property twice after complaints were raised and found no village rules being broken.
Pereira and Cusato acknowledged the complexity of the situation. “They are people who are dependent on substance abuse and may have mental health issues,” said Cusato.
Earlier in the meeting, Pereira approved several motions, including the annual Portuguese carnival and emergency repairs to a village work building. With a potential snowfall forecast for the weekend, Pereira also urged residents and businesses to prepare.
“We got used to mild winters,” Pereira said, reminding residents to sign up for the village’s notification system. He added that most businesses fail to clear sidewalks and are typically issued a notice of violation. If necessary, a summons will be issued to businesses that do not comply.
“We do give them a summons to encourage them to clean up their responsibility, which is the sidewalks,” the mayor said.
The meeting concluded without formal action on the property damage dispute or concerns about group homes, but village officials said they would continue reviewing matters within their legal authority.
