This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Power Lines And Tree Limbs Don't Mix

Elm Avenue resident fears loss of power in winter storms.

Patch received the following query from Glen Cove resident Peter Monaco of 61 Elm Avenue:

My issue is with the City, which planted trees many years ago between the street and sidewalk in front of my house. Problem with it is that my electrical lines for my house run right through it. I've notified LIPA and they've told me it is not their issue, and to have the City cut it down. 
 
Last year I asked the City laborers who do cut the trees, and was told they would take it down last spring. Unfortunately, there was a car parked on the street the day they came by. They informed me they would take it down eventually. 
 
With the destructive winds and storms we've had in the past few months, I am worried a limb might come down and sever the electrical lines to my house. If that should happen, I may be responsible for the damage, and I'd have to pay LIPA to reconnect my electric. I also worry about the hazard of any vehicles or passerbyers should a live wire touch down.
 
Please get me a definitive answer on when they can take it down, and follow up to see they do complete the work.

Patch Responds:

The problem outlined by Peter Monaco remains unresolved at this time because his approaches to City personnel were so informal that Glen Cove never received a request to open a work order on the issue. As a result, our first edition of Patch's new Fix It column explores how residents can most effectively work with the City to resolve issues they may have.

Find out what's happening in Glen Covewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As we found, approaching members of a City work crew is not the way to go. Nor is mentioning your problem to the mayor when you see him around town or informing a neighbor who knows someone who works for the City. 
 
Glen Cove Public Works is the appropriate agency to contact for any issues concerning broken curbs, lifted sidewalks, sanitation (garbage and recycling), trees, snow removal and drainage issues on public grounds. So we spoke to Bill Archambault, the department's director, to determine how Glen Cove residents might best bring their repair issues to the City's attention. 

Archambault, stressed the importance of properly notifying the City of the problem. That means putting it in writing to the director of Public Works, if that's the appropriate department. He said you might even want to copy the City clerk to make sure your communication is part of the official record.

"We do record less formal approaches, such as coming into City Hall or telephoning us, but the surer, more effective means is a request in writing to the appropriate department," explained Archambault.

Find out what's happening in Glen Covewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When we acquainted the public works director with the situation on Elm Avenue, he let us know that upon receiving written notice from the homeowner, the department would get LIPA involved to clear any limbs or branches that might be entangled in the power lines "so it would be safe for City crews to come in to perform any follow-up pruning or tree removal," he said. 

In this instance, the resident told us he didn't follow the regular procedures because he didn't wish to make a problem with the City. So Patch is asking Bill Archambault: Will your department look into the problem at this address? We'll be following up on this to see what happens.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?