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Supervisor's executive order raises eyebrows of opposing camp
Deputy Parks Commissioner cites silly season for her ouster

10/16/2009

BY PEGGY SPELLMAN HOEY |STAFF WRITER
North Shore Sun

Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko's Oct. 6 executive order calling for an investigation of the collapse of the Mott House has prompted accusations that he targeted Deputy Parks Commissioner Carol Bissonette because she is opposing Legis. Kate Browning, a Working Families candidate endorsed by the Democrats, for a County Legislature seat.
The 185-year-old Mott House, which stood at the corner of Homestead Drive and Middle Country Road in Gordon Heights up until three weeks ago, was slated for historic preservation by the town. Upon completion of the project, the Gordon Heights chamber of commerce and civic associations had planned to use it for their meetings.

The house, which was not on the state or federal registers of historic structures, collapsed while workers hired by the town were cleaning the property two weeks ago. Deemed "historic" by the town, however, it was built on stones laid in the ground in 1824 on land originally owned by William C. Howell. The original parcel where it was located consisted of 30 acres of land. Seaman Albert Mott and his wife, Joanna, lived in the house with their seven children, according to the 1870 U.S. Census. More recently, the home was inhabited by wildlife and had fallen into a state of disrepair -- a trumpet vine had wrapped itself around the chimney, and the cabinets, which once stored the belongings of the Mott family, were inhabited by pests.

On Sept. 24, a work crew hired by the town was clearing the building of debris in order for an engineering crew to go inside and make an assessment when the structure partially collapsed and finally came down in splinters. Witnesses allegedly told town officials that, prior to the collapse, they observed workers removing windows, doors, the back wall and a support beam from the home -- actions not in accordance with the treatment of historic homes.

The following week, on Oct. 2, Brookhaven's first Town Hall, the Lester Davis House up the road in Coram was deemed structurally unsound by a town engineer, requiring emergency stabilization in order to protect the building from a similar fate, according to Mr. Lesko, who is a Democrat. Accordingly, Mr. Lesko said, he issued his first executive order since taking office in April. Among other things, it stripped Ms. Bissonette of her oversight of historic properties throughout the town pending an investigation by former Suffolk Police Commissioner John Gallagher -- a member of Mr. Lesko's transition team -- into the collapse of the house. Mr. Gallagher will likely interview witnesses to the collapse, including the workers, area residents, and Ms. Bissonette -- "if she chooses to," Mr. Lesko said. The order also calls for an expert in historic structures to evaluate the Davis House.

"I can't have these houses collapsing all over the township," Mr. Lesko said.

In the meantime, Mr. Lesko explained, the town will continue to assess what needs to be done with all of its historic structures. Assemblywoman Patricia Eddington (WF-Medford) also has arranged a total of $500,000 in grants for the community center that will replace the Mott House and to rehabilitate the Davis House.

Ms. Bissonette, a former member of the town's historic advisory committee who has served as the deputy parks and recreation commissioner since 2008, said she "feels targeted" because she is running against Ms. Browning.

"I spent nearly two decades working for historic preservation in Brookhaven," Ms. Bissonette said. "I would never ever do anything resulting in a historical building collapsing. Implying that I was unfit, without even extending the professional courtesy, without speaking to me directly, is indicative of a political witch hunt. It's just too coincidental."

Martin Haley, who is running against Mr. Lesko in the November election, called the move to remove Ms. Bissonette suspect and pointed out that the home had languished for quite some time under the guidance of other Democrats, including former parks commissioner Brian Pratt, who, he said, allowed the addition of a slate roof which could have contributed to the collapse of the house. And rather than make Mott House a priority, Mr. Haley said, incumbent Councilwoman Connie Kepert, also a Democrat, procured funds for a dog park.

"Had it not been an election year, had [Carol Bissonette] not been running, it would have been called an accident and people would have forgotten about it," he said.

Ms. Browning takes exception to the opposing camp's view that the investigation and the subsequent removal of Ms. Bissonette were merely campaign ploys.

"It has nothing to do with me; it's a town government issue," she added.

peggy@northshoresun.com