East Hampton Camp Directors Charged With Running Illegal Staff House

Two directors at an East Hampton children's summer camp were charged with multiple safety and crowding violations on Wednesday after a search of a staff house at 17 Ocean Boulevard in East Hampton.

East Hampton Town officials said in a press statement that the house was being occupied by 25 counselors working at the Hampton Country Day Camp, which is on Buckskill Road in East Hampton. The house is owned by the same Glen Cove limited liability corporation that owns the camp.

David S. Skolnick, 32, of Plainview and Doris E. Rosen, 60, of Jericho were each charged with 61 alleged violations, including failure to obtain building permits, missing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, blocking fire egress from rooms, failure to maintain and enclose a swimming pool, and keeping garbage within the residence.

No one was available for comment at the camp on Wednesday afternoon, a receptionist there said.

According to the camp's website, Mr. Skolnick, a Cornell University graduate, has worked for the TLC Family of Camps for many years, becoming the East Hampton camp's director in 2010. Ms. Rosen was also made a director in 2010. They are due in East Hampton Town Justice Court on Aug. 17 to answer the charges.

Jay Jacobs, the president of the TLC camps, was not charged, according to the town.

The town said in its statement that the action Wednesday followed an investigation. The search warrant was executed by the town Ordinance Enforcement Department, town police, and Fire Marshal's Office.

"Most of the house had been altered without the required building permits or inspections, making for a dangerous living situation, the town said. The legally four-bedroom house had been expanded to eight bedrooms, all with bunk beds. Among the charges leveled against Mr. Skolnick and Ms. Rosen was the house had been improperly converted to a dormitory and that exit windows had been blocked by air-conditioners. There were five more vehicles observed on the property than allowed for a rented property, the town said.