Gripe Vine Readers:
From time to time, after following up on your complaints, I will receive a letter from the folks who had submitted complaints, indicating “Sorry Eleanore, nothing has been done about my gripe.” My usual procedure is to follow up and find out why.
So, starting today, I would like to publish the original complaints, note the fact nothing had changed and encourage my readers, to let me know. Please note my email address, [email protected] or mail, Gripe Vine, c/o West Haven Voice, 666 Savin Ave. Following receipt of your letters, if once again nothing is done by the city, I will publish this fact in Gripe Vine. Most important, if my readers don’t receive a solution to their gripes, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
Here is a letter I received this week from Mayor Nancy R. Rossi:
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
First, let me say I enjoy reading your column and want to thank you for helping our residents get answers to their questions and complaints.
I read your column in last week’s issue of the West Haven Voice and wanted to offer you information for your readers in regards to complaints. It is true that I have eliminated the position of Complaints Officer in the mayor’s office. As you know West Haven is facing very difficult financial and budget challenges. I have made and will continue to make difficult budget cuts where practical to remedy our budget problems–unfortunately we cannot operate as we have in the past.
With that said, please know that the City of West Haven will listen and answer all complaints and requests from residents and any inquiries that you forward for your column. The City Council should be the first line of communication for a resident that has a complaint. The website for the city council is: http://www.cityofwesthaven.com/183/City-Council.
Council Members are listed below with their contact information:
District 1: Bridgette Hoskie 326 Washington Ave. [email protected] 203-927-1537;
District 2: Nicholas Ruickholdt 1 Peck Ave. [email protected] 203-640-4809;
District 3: Aaron Charney 146 Union Ave. [email protected] 203-479-0424;
District 4: Mitchell Gallignano 127 Highland St. [email protected] 203-430-1238;
District 5: Robbin Watt Hamilton 92 Bedford St. [email protected] 203-641-6448;
District 6: Peter Massaro 8 Chris Jon Circle [email protected] 203-687-1201;
District 7: Portia Bias 155 Bull Hill Lane [email protected] 203-508-3469;
District 8: Tracy Morrissey 305 Country Hill Drive [email protected] 203-937-0586;
District 9: Sean Ronan 10 Colonial Place [email protected] 203-606-8278;
District 10: Louise Martone 4 Big Spruce Lane [email protected] 203-937-9220;
At Large (city wide): Richard DePalma 231 Daytona St. [email protected] 203-996-4942;
At Large (city wide): Chairman Ron Quagliani 27 Downdraft Circle [email protected] 203-937-9990;
At Large (city wide): David Forsyth 38 Cullen Ave. [email protected].
Administrative Assistant to City Council: Michael DiMassa [email protected] 203-937-3672 Contact Mr. DiMassa if you are unsure of your district.
Should a resident not get a response or want additional clarification on an issue, they can always call the mayor’s office. If we cannot answer the question immediately, we will forward the inquiry to the appropriate department for a response. The telephone number for the mayor’s office is 203-937-3510.
The mayor’s office will ensure that every complaint and inquiry is answered as quickly and efficiently as possible, but unfortunately we are not in a position to have an employee solely dedicated to complaints.
Please feel free to print my comments in your column.
Thank you for your important work.
Nancy Rossi
Mayor
Please send your comments on Mayor Nancy Rossi’s letter to [email protected]. Include your name, address and phone number, kept in confidence with me. You can also mail them to West Haven Voice, 666 Savin Ave.
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
I would like to have another dead end sign put at the beginning of Taft Avenue. There was one and it was removed when they were working on the new building on the corner of Atwood. It has not been replaced. Taft Avenue is a dead end Street, and cars are coming down more now; they think they can cut over to Front Avenue. If there is something you can do, I would appreciate it.
M.R
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
Cars regularly speed down this one way street (New Street) several families with young children live on this street. Preferably a speed hump could be put on this street or at least children- at- play sign posted.
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
There is an 18-wheeler truck parked between People’s Bank and Soundview Apartments. This truck blocks the area for city buses and leaves little room to turn cars around. Can you help make this a safer area?
DN
Dear D.N.:
A follow up letter from you, “I just heard from our property manager, John Galaty of Collect Associates. He said he notified the WHPD about the truck and they were going to meet with the driver and tell him to leave the area.”
A few days later, D.N. wrote, “Since my last email, I just say the truck has no longer been parking there. However, I’m not sure it isn’t because of the snow but I hope it never returns! If anything changes, I will certainly notify you! Thank you again for all the gripes you handle in our fair city.”
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
I would like to thank Public Works for the fine job on our street, Voss Road. They plowed close to the mailbox to allow the mailman to deliver mail. I have had to dig it out in the past.
On another note, some sidewalks along Elm Street from Wagner Place to Second Avenue are terrible. I wonder how some were able to dig a path so narrow. Some didn’t do it at all. Is there a width that the walkway should be made?
Snowman
Dear Snowman:
City ordinance 195 indicates snow must be shoveled within 24 hours, but it does not state the width of a sidewalk to be shoveled.
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Readers who would like to comment, complain or present questions, can email [email protected] or write to Gripe Vine c/o West Haven Voice, 666 Savin Ave. Please include your name, address and phone number kept in strict confidence with me. You can also use our online form by clicking here.