COMMUNITY WATCHDOG: Danger for wheelchair commuter

Many corners do not have curb cuts so that wheelchairs are unable to access sidewalks and avoid being hit by traffic as they try to maneuver the streets. In my neighborhood, traveling to and from my home to reach the MTA bus stop is dangerous. I'm forced to ride my wheelchair on busy streets. Little Whaleneck Road is particularly congested at rush hour. Sidewalks should be made accessible to all.

- Max Gold, Merrick

We're told the curb cuts will be in place by early- to mid-July.

The Town of Hempstead Highway Department plans to install handicapped-accessible ramps on the sidewalks leading from your home to the nearby Merrick Avenue bus stop by then, as a result of our call to officials.

Town spokesman Michael Deery said officials are aware that the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 made the ramps a requirement. But "many of the corners predate legislation that provided for the ramps," he said. "As we replace sidewalks in sections, we do put them [the ramps] in place."

Meanwhile, for those who need a handicapped-accessible ramp installed in a specific area, as in Mr. Gold's case, the town will accommodate them, Deery said.

The town wasn't ignoring a complaint about curb cuts, Deery noted, because the only one on file from the Gold residence regarding sidewalks involved requests for snow removal in the area.

Town of Hempstead residents seeking handicapped-accessible ramps should contact the town's highway department at 516-489-5000.

- Michael R. Ebert

Patching the potholes

For many years, I've endured the potholes and indentations in the road at the entrance of Fairfield Village at Commack. This section of road is badly in need of repairs. The problem is right on the border of Commack Road, so I'm not sure if it's the responsibility of the residential complex, Town of Smithtown or Suffolk County. - David Schwartz, Commack

Within a week of our call, the Suffolk County Department of Public Works sent a crew to patch the potholes on Fairfield Way in Commack.

Public Works Commissioner Gil Anderson said that the county will be repairing the stretch of pavement that runs across Fairfield Way and parallel to Commack Road. In this case, the trouble spot runs along the outer line of the crosswalk on Fairfield Way.

Anderson said the county will "replace it with new pavement. Over the years, water has gotten in there and popped out the pavement."

Suffolk residents with concerns about county road conditions should call the Public Works Department at 631-852-4010.

- Michael R. Ebert

Trees needed removal

There's a Town of Islip tree by the street in my front yard that needs to be removed. Parts of it came down in the nor'easter in March and blocked the road and I'm afraid the other limbs will take out the electricity lines and damage my car in the driveway. I've called the town and they tell me that LIPA has to take care of it. LIPA tells me the town has to call them. I've been trying to have it removed for at least five years and all I'm getting is the runaround. - Dolores Gentile, Central Islip

We live next door to Mrs. Gentile and also have a decayed tree that has lost large limbs in the storm. You can see that the tree is badly damaged, dangerous and needs to come down. - Chastity Joseph, Central Islip

The town had plenty of tree work to do after that destructive storm, but within a few weeks of our call both of these problem trees were removed - mostly. Ms. Joseph said her family is still waiting for the town to come back and grind down the tree's bulky stump that was left after the rest of the tree was taken out.

Mrs. Gentile was thrilled when the tree in front of her home was finally cut down, and she was grateful to the town's Department of Environmental Control for collecting the wood debris and a car bumper, left at the end of her driveway by someone who apparently thought it more convenient to leave her with the mess.

The town probably could have solved the problem sooner, but some of the branches were too close to the utility lines, so LIPA had to be called.

Residents with concerns about Islip Town trees should call the Public Works Department at 631-224-5610.