COMMUNITY WATCHDOG: Bumpy ride on W. Babylon road

Last spring and summer, extensive work was done on Little East Neck Road in West Babylon, from Southern State Parkway to Sunrise Highway. The southbound lane that was ripped up and destroyed is littered with potholes and other spots that are destroying the suspension and tires on my car. It's dangerous because everyone driving south on this road stays toward the middle to avoid the potholes. Why hasn't the road been resurfaced?

- James Maggiotto, West Babylon

We've received more complaints about this stretch of road than any other. Most recently, West Babylon residents Douglas Koudelka and Timothy Murray, and John Ingrassia of North Babylon contacted us about the same problem.

While drivers have had a bumpy ride since extensive work was completed by the Suffolk County Water Authority, the inconvenience, while unfortunate, was all part of a bigger effort to save taxpayers money, town spokesman Tim Ruggeri says.

He explains it this way: Early last year, the town planned its 2010 road paving schedule, which included Little East Neck Road. Whenever a main road is being repaved, the town notifies all the utilities saying if they have to do work there, they'd better get it done before repaving begins - or wait five years after the new road is in - "because we're not going to use taxpayer money to repave it just to have you rip it up," Ruggeri said.

After the water authority was notified, it ripped up the street to install a new main line and connecting side-street lines. The town has been waiting for the spring paving season to replace the patched asphalt, he says. Repaving the pothole-ridden area should be completed within the next couple of weeks.

Poles impede view

I've made numerous complaints about the two utility poles at Randall Road and Albert Street in Shoreham. These are thick wooden poles that impede our vision when we're trying to make a left turn. It's difficult to see oncoming traffic with the extra pole there. Electric service has been moved to the new pole that was installed about three years ago, but there are still other wires attached to the old pole. Workers have come out and looked at the problem, but nothing gets done. I haven't been able to even get a work order number.

- Michael Magliola, Shoreham

You should have a better line of vision now that the old pole has been removed, Mr. Magliola.

The pole removal was scheduled to be taken out before you contacted us, according to Long Island Power Authority spokesman Mark Gross.

This is his account: The new pole (and three others) was placed on Randall Road as part of the utility's "storm hardening program," to reduce damage that can occur to the utility's lines during severe tropical storms or hurricanes. Someone called LIPA saying that after the March storm, the pole was leaning. When workers "went to shore up the pole, we noticed there was still a double-wood situation," and that Verizon's wires were still attached to the old pole. After Verizon was contacted, workers transferred its lines and took out the old pole, Gross said.

Worry over leaning tree

An 80-foot pine tree on my neighbor's property next door has been leaning toward my house ever since the March nor'easter this year. I've been told by a tree expert that it needs to come down before it falls during a strong wind and damages my home, including my new sunroom. But the neighbors have moved out and are selling their house and the real estate agent said the couple is not interested in spending money to cut down the tree, even though it's clearly going to fall some day. What can I do to save my home from being wrecked?

- Irma Wade, Medford

The tree is on private property, so the Town of Brookhaven can't help you, Mrs. Wade. But there are measures you can take that could help.

Real estate attorney James A. Rose of East Meadow says you should place your neighbor on notice of the dangerous and defective condition of the tree and the potential liability involved if it falls. Demand that the homeowner remedy the situation.

Since your neighbors are no longer living in the home, see if your local post office has a forwarding address for them. Or send the letter to the old address with the hope that it will be sent to their new address, he advises.

"By placing the neighbor on notice," Rose said, "it will hopefully alert the neighbor of the potential liability the neighbor will face and convince the neighbor to take corrective action."