Gripe Vine Readers:
In the past, I had been fortunate to receive superior assistance from Francis Withington; the past Information Officer for the City of West Haven provided solutions to my reader’s complaints. His responses were prompt, accurate and effectual. However, because of a change in the city’s procedures, there is no longer an information officer who can provide the public with such support.
Gripe Vine has sent an introductory request to Mayor Nancy Rossi’s office seeking similar help with city wide problems, including blight, trash, speeders, traffic stop violations, building codes, etc. I received a response indicating that when a reader has problems, and writes to Gripe Vine, I should contact each city department head for cooperation in resolving the reader’s gripes. I requested a list of department heads and have not, to date, received it. The mayor’s office indicated that if I was unsuccessful in receiving department heads cooperation to contact her office.
There can be valuable time wasted with this procedure. Before the city, hired an information officer, I had experienced, few and no answers from department heads and long periods of wait time. Many of these gripes were related to dangerous situations.
Within the past say 5 to 10 years a great deal of satisfaction went to my readers through this column because a representative from the city worked hand in hand with this columnist. West Haven taxpayers and residents should have complete cooperation from the city when it comes to making West Haven a safe, clean, progressive place to live.
So, readers, I will try to help you solve your gripes and questions anticipating a Mayoral information representative who will continue to provide answers and solutions to your problems.
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
I live on Hillside Avenue in West Shore. I think years ago, snow storm parking in streets alternated (even-odd) every year here. Yeah, that was confusing, I guess. So, they made odd side permanent here.
I am on the odd side and I do not park in the street, but everybody else does. That mean the odd side is poorly plowed, but it’s not the fault of the Department of Public Works.
Here’s the thing: All the fire hydrants are on the odd side. Why not make the even side ok to park permanently instead.
I am tired of making a path from the middle of the street to the hydrant. I have one at the corner of my lot.
DPJ
Dear DPJ:
Well, speaking of fire hydrants and I have received inquiries about fire hydrants and who should shovel around them. I figured this would be a good opportunity to state that “All residents are asked to clean a path from a fire hydrant to the street and a three foot perimeter around the hydrant as well.
Now, to get to your question about alternate side parking, this might be just the right opportunity to publish the city’s information on plowing.
“During an official snow emergency declared by Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, a parking ban will run from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. on both sides of Campbell and Savin Avenues, Morgan Lane, Elm Street, Meloy Road, Second Avenue from Elm to Beach Streets and Main Street from Savin to Washington Avenues.
Per the city ordinance, residents and businesses are responsible for removing snow from sidewalks on and bordering their properties. Also, per ordinance, plowing or blowing snow into city streets is prohibited and violators are subject to fines.”
And, readers, a frequent question to Gripe Vine, who should shovel the snow around mailboxes? The answer, the property owner’s responsibility.
COMING UP: Speeding on New Street…bulk trash pickup…more on snow plowing..speeders on Benham Hill Road…catch basins cleaning…recycle bins and trash cans gripes…pot holes on Kelsey Avenue light replacement needed at 200’s Sawmill Road ….handicap question on apartment entrance..hazardous sidewalk condition on Lakeview Avenue and much more.
If you have gripes, comments or questions, send them to [email protected] or mail them to Gripe Vine c/o West Haven Voice, 666 Savin Ave. Please include your name, address and phone number, kept strictly confidential with me.