Town Summonses Journal News, Alleges Code Violation

The Town of Harrison has summonsed , citing an illegal use and a violation of town code on the newspaper company's property at 1 Gannett Drive, according to court documents.

Harrison Code Enforcement Officer Edward DiBuono signed off on the summons on April 5, about two weeks after the town noticed a tree removal service and firewood operation on the property that officials say violates a town ordinance.

The first count charges that firewood was found chopped and ready for sale on the property — which the town claims is an illegal use. The second count charges a storage container without a permit was found on the site.

Harrison Building Inspector Bob FitzSimmons said the town noticed the violation while investigating another matter.

"He was way in the back," said Fitzsimmons. "We happened to stumble upon it."

FitzSimmons said the man was probably hired to perform maintenance on the property and he doesn't know if The Journal News even knew about the firewood operation. The owner of the property is responsible for any violations regardless, he said.

Tom Donovan, interim president and publisher of The Journal News did not immediately return a call seeking comment. The Journal News must respond to the summons on April 28.

The newspaper, which covers Westchester County, Rockland County and parts of Putnam County in southern New York, hosts its editorial operations at the site located off of Westchester Avenue just north of Interstate 287.

The Journal News has been looking to sell the property for more than a year. The newspaper's current building is no longer used to print the newspaper, that operation was .