PORT JERVIS, NY — Safety was at the forefront in a discussion about a damaged building at the September 22 meeting of the Port Jervis Common Council. Councilmembers and Mayor Kelly Decker. The building located at 34–40 Front Street came under scrutiny, and Howard Cooperman, who owns 21–32 Front Street, next to it, complained about a city order that forces his building to stay closed although it has no defects.

After a September 12 storm that damaged the first building’s roof and resulted in debris that’s still lying there, the town notified Cooperman he could not have people live in his neighboring building either, or lease the commercial properties due to safety concerns.

City engineer Mike Lauoreaux explained to the council, “I reviewed it again, and all of us can see when you walk out the front into Sussex Street, it remains as it was that day.” He said the brick layer on the roof is also a problem because the bricks might become loose, and the third floor of the building is possibly also unstable.

“The city is responsible for removing such material,” said Mayor Kelly Decker. He said letters have been sent to the owner, bank and insurance company, and contact has been made. A bank representative was present at the meeting, but no resolution was agreed upon.

Cooperman addressed the council several times, asking them to act fast to either repair or demolish the building since it’s forcing him to keep his building vacant, although business tenants are making inquiries.

He continued after the meeting, “It’s owned by John Hawkeye, who lives in Florida. The building official of Port Jervis put a notice on a fixture in my building that it has to be vacated, and I cannot lease the building. But I’m not getting a break in taxes or water bill; I’m still paying. My building has no defect; it’s the building next door.

“But the point is my building manager here has had four or five prospective tenants he can’t even show the building to because we’re inhibited from leasing it. These are commercial properties on the ground floor. We have to wait two weeks for this man to make a decision. The city must make a decision whether to repair or demolish the building.”

Cooperman continued that he didn’t know about the damage next door and said, “I have never seen the damage in the next building.”

Decker said he’s tried to make contact with the owner of the building several times, but he can’t be found.

The council will make its decision at the meeting on October 13 whether to repair or demolish the building based on inquiries and responses received by then.