Community Watchdog: Left turn arrows planned for Boundary Ave.

Years ago, I wrote to Nassau County about the need for left turn arrows on Boundary Avenue at the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway entrance ramps. In July 2008, I received a letter from the Nassau County Department of Public Works Commissioner Raymond A. Ribeiro, He wrote that the left turn arrows would be installed, but it's going on two years and nothing has happened. I know the county has budget problems but these arrows would improve the safety on this road, especially during rush hour.

- Richie Heaning, North Massapequa

There was an important line raising the possibility of a delay in that letter from Ribeiro, who was then-commissioner under County Executive Tom Suozzi and became deputy commissioner after Ed Mangano took office.

"We are initiating the design of the left turn arrows and will proceed with the installation as soon as our workload permits," the letter states.

Ribeiro told us recently that the county is still committed to installing the arrows, which requires somewhat complicated changes in the wiring and adding additional traffic detectors. That will make the area more efficient. And that's another factor holding up the works. Usually, work like this takes about a year to complete, after it's determined the changes are needed. But a project that makes a road more efficient takes a backseat to one that improves safety, such as the installation of a new signal, Ribeiro said.

The county hopes to have the arrows you requested in place by late summer, Mr. Heaning. Please let us know when the work is done.

Suspected home car-repair shopMy neighbor's son has been running an auto repair business from his home. Cars pull up at all hours of day, and sometimes a flatbed truck will drop off a car. At one point, there were cars under nylon covers in the street with no plates or registration. Police issued tickets and now he works in the driveway. The business brings strangers, booming radios and noisy engines. I was told this is how he makes money, but doesn't he need permits to run a repair shop?

- Gail Keener, Baldwin

Within 24 hours of our call, the Town of Hempstead sent a code enforcement officer to the home to leave a Notice of Violation, a citation informing the homeowner that an allegation was made against them of a violation to town code.

Town spokesman Mike Deery said that there was no visual evidence of a car repair business or related equipment on the outside of the home at the time of the officer's visit.

But Keener said that's likely due to the large amount of recent snowfall.

"Sometimes, the notice is sufficient and the problem is resolved," said Deery, who noted there were no prior complaints about the matter in the town's records. "But clearly, you're not allowed to operate this type of business from a home."

A week after the notice was issued, Keener said her neighbor modified his work hours to the nighttime. At our request, Deery said the town would send an officer at a later hour.

Town officials said Keener should contact the Building Department at 516-538-8500 the next time she sees repairs being done at the Baldwin home.

- MICHAEL R. EBERT

Calling out that leaning poleThere's a telephone pole on my street that is leaning about 30 degrees and gets lower each month. The wires that stretch across the street are just 10 to 12 feet off the ground and trucks must stray to the right to avoid hitting them. I called LIPA and a worker responded within a few hours and said he would report the situation to his superiors. But that was two years ago. This is a serious danger and must be corrected before someone is electrocuted.

- Bob Esposito, Blue Point

The pole's days are numbered, Mr. Esposito. Within a day of our call, LIPA sent a worker to evaluate the low-hanging wires and leaning pole and determined that the wires belong to Verizon and Cablevision (which owns Newsday).

LIPA plans to install a new pole this week. Verizon and Cablevision spokesmen said their wires would be moved later this week after the new pole is installed. LIPA spokeswoman Vanessa Baird-Streeter said LIPA would notify the Town of Brookhaven's street lighting division to transfer its light from the old pole to the new one so the old pole can be removed.

Once all the work is completed, LIPA workers will remove the tilting pole, she said.

Residents with emergencies involving LIPA wires or services should call 800-490-0075.

- MICHAEL R. EBERT