Community watchdog: Problem curb fixed

A standing water problem plaguing a rental home in the Village of Cedarhurst is all dried up, but the repair will likely cost the contractor who fixed it $7,500.

In December, we wrote about Jill Smulevitz, who contacted us because of the constant ponding caused by a bad curb in front of her rental home. Mayor Andrew J. Parise told us that homeowners in the village are responsible for sidewalks and curb repairs. However, West Broadway, where Smulevitz lives, is a Nassau County road. So, before work could begin, her landlord had to obtain separate permits - one from the village for the sidewalk repair and another from the county for curb replacement.

Getting the village permit was easy, but the county's Public Works Department permit required a $7,500 security fee in case the road was damaged during the curb repair.

The landlord was able to find a private contractor who offered to shoulder the security fee. But the contractor began work before obtaining the permit, and damaged the road during the curb repair, public works spokesman Mike Martino said.

The contractor and landlord intend to repair the damaged asphalt. This time, the contractor obtained the necessary permit from the county and paid the $7,500 security fee. It'll probably cost the contractor about that same amount to make the repairs, but after the work is done, the security fee will be returned, Martino said.

"If the contractor had applied for a permit and knew what was expected of him . . . this unnecessary expense would've been avoided," he said.

Nassau residents with concerns involving curb replacement on county roads should call 516-571-9600.

- Michael R. Ebert

All of the streetlights on my road were replaced with new fixtures last summer, but the one in front of my house hasn't been working correctly. It used to be occasionally lit with a dim bluish-purple color, but it hasn't been on at all in the past few weeks. I began reporting the problem to the Town of Hempstead in early December following the many local purse snatchings, and the town notified its contractor. The town said the contractor visited several times, but my light still isn't working.

- Allison Stansfield, Wantagh

The problem's fixed - we hope. Within a week of our call, the town's Street Lighting Department solved the on-again, off-again issue.

Town spokeswoman Susie Trenkle-Pokalsky told us that a department supervisor accompanied the contractor to the site to make sure the issue was resolved. Apparently, the problem was caused by a defective light socket assembly, which was replaced.

However, Mrs. Stansfield told us a few days later that the light was out again. "It never came on and it is now almost 10 p.m." she wrote in an e-mail.

Again, we called the town and the contractor and supervisor made another trip to inspect the light. Town spokesman Michael Deery said they tested it on and off for 45 minutes during that visit and it was operating properly.

We haven't heard from Mrs. Stansfield. So far, so good.

Residents in the Town of Hempstead should report streetlight problems by calling 516-378-2260.

For months, I have been asking the Village of Great Neck to repaint the crosswalk lines at the dangerous intersection of Grace Avenue and Park Place. The lines are practically obliterated and it is a popular crossing for senior citizens and parents with baby strollers walking to and from the Jonathan L. Ielpi Firefighters Park. This is a deadly accident waiting to happen.

- Suzanne Mueller, Great Neck

Maybe next month, Mrs. Mueller. But it'll be the Nassau County Department of Public Works that does the repainting and not the village, because Grace Avenue is a county road.

After we called, the county evaluated the crosswalk and agreed with your assessment, public works spokesman Mike Martino said. The work should be done by next month.

"It is not possible to do it any sooner due to the temperature," Martino wrote in an e-mail.

Great Neck Mayor Jean A. Celender also reached out to us and said the area's "extremely harsh winter" contributed to the fading lines.

"Frequent snow plowing does have an effect on markings, unfortunately," she said, adding that workers will begin repainting crosswalks on village roads in May.

Nassau residents with road maintenance issues on county roads should call 516-571-6900.

- Michael R. Ebert