Gripe Vine Readers:
In last week’s column, a letter was published complaining of a noisy leaf pickup at 4:30 a.m. If you recall, I had asked this reader to let me know if there was any recurrence and the following letters tell the story.
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
You wished to be kept informed about the leaf truck issues. Well, we had the pleasure of being woken up again at 4:30 a.m. That really goes to show you how our city government works for the taxpayer.
1st: Garbage company gets contract knowing the ordinance about start times.
2nd: The company decides to ignore ordinance.
3rd: City/police don’t enforce ordinance. (Hard to miss a garbage truck at 4 a.m.)
4thComplaint filed.
5th: City states that company was informed.
6th: Company ignores and is picking up leaf bags@ 4:30 a.m.
7th: Is a big question. Who is responsible to oversee this contract and what can be done? It seems to me that if a police officer was to stop the truck and issue a ticket, it would most likely stop these rude unnecessary wake ups. (So easy to do.)
So Eleanore, who is going to do the right thing, I have no faith in anyone in the city at this point. If they won’t address the issue why have an ordinance? (We all know many get ignored!) Sad times we live in. In a few years West Haven will just be like any of our failing major cities where rules are only for the ones that will abide by them with no enforcement for the ones who break them.
Oh yes, I just have to add a few more comments:
You know that old saying, “You just can’t make this stuff up”, well, the leaf truck didn’t wake me up this morning, but the garbage truck which normally shows up around 9 a.m., decided 5 a.m. was a better time. Of course that now means the garbage can is on its side blowing around in the street. Like I said, you can’t make this stuff up.
Sorry I took the time to bother with this issue as nothing is ever going to change in this city because no one is going to hold anyone accountable for not doing their job whether it be the city manager overseeing the contracts or the police enforcing a simple ordinance. This all falls on the heads of each department to see that employees of the city do their jobs and give the taxpayer what they pay for and deserve.
All our police chief has to do is ask an officer to stop these trucks and if they deserve a ticket, give it. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to work? Or are we doing selective enforcement? Yes, I also know that the police carry a heavy load, but a few tickets will cure the situation.
Sleepless and Sad.
P.S. Thanks for trying. Keep up the good work.
Gripe Vine Readers:
A reminder from West Haven’s Public Works Department, “The special citywide Leaf Bag Collection that was scheduled for Dec. 9 was postponed due to the snowstorm. We will reschedule at a later date.
Readers, you can send our complaints, issues and comments to gripevine4wh@aol.com or write to Gripe Vine, West Haven Voice, 666 Savin Ave. Please include your name, address and phone number, kept strictly confidential with me.