Clarifying Hempstead's policy on leaves

When it comes to leaves, it's tempting to say there's a credibility gap between the Town of Hempstead and many of its residents, but that's such an old-fashioned term. Let's call it a disconnect.

After Watchdog reported on town leaf-collection policies Oct. 30, our in-boxes began to fill. Residents of Seaford and Merrick, East Meadow and Wantagh expressed surprise to read that raking leaves into a street is a violation.

That policy -- residents and lawn maintenance companies are not to rake leaves into the street -- is a violation of town code. They must be bagged -- was the town's response to Watchdog's question: Does the town collect leaves that are not bagged?

When Peter J. Ruffner of Seaford read that, he wrote: "I am not sure who in the TOH told you that they don't pick up leaves raked to the curbside, but I can assure you it is inaccurate. For my entire lifetime (and I am 56) the town has collected leaves deposited at your curbside. Just thought you would want better accuracy."

And this came from John Comiskey of Merrick: "Is there any way you can find out why the Town of Hempstead 'looks the other way' with regard to raking of leaves into the street in Merrick? I would love to be able to rake my leaves into the street rather than spending hours bagging."

Last week, Watchdog sought to find out if the town's practice is different from its policy.

In an interview, town spokesman Michael Deery repeated that raking leaves into the road is not permitted; he cited a section of town law that prohibits "deposits on roads." And he said the town's 2011 garbage and recycling collection schedule, mailed to every home, advises residents of the policy. But its language -- "Please do not rake leaves into the street" -- is less than direct.

Is the town sending out mixed signals?

Deery said he didn't think the statements are incongruent. "Certainly, I think that it [the statement in the mailed schedule] is consistent with our policy," he said, terming the language in the mailed schedule "a matter of tone."

Has the town considered sending a letter to every household stating the policy -- as the town did for landscapers? Deery said the statement in the recycling schedule makes such a letter unnecessary.

Which brings us to the practice of the town's picking up leaves raked into streets. Several residents have written and called Watchdog to report that, even as they have bagged leaves and set them at the curb, town crews have collected leaves that other households have raked into the streets.

The town does collect leaves, Deery said, because "we cannot leave debris in the street as it can leave a dangerous condition."

Have any residents been penalized? "I'm sure we have issued notices of violation," he said, adding that in a town with 240,000 homes, "the only way to police is by resident complaints." And in response to such a complaint, "we'll send a Department of Sanitation or Highway Department inspector out to try to get compliance."

And what of the residents who work hard to rake and bag their leaves -- and watch as neighbors who don't appear to get rewarded?

"I can see how some people would see that it's unfair," he said. "If you'd really like us to issue tickets, call us."

-- JUDY CARTWRIGHT

Traffic study set for Shoreham

Making a left turn from Ridge Road onto Route 25A in Shoreham requires courage, bravery and a game of chicken. First, you wait for an opening in the eastbound traffic, then stop in the center divider for a look past the shrubbery to see if the westbound lane is clear -- while hoping the tail end of your car doesn't get clipped. It is an accident waiting to happen. We need a traffic light.

-- Kathy Lynch, Shoreham

The state hears you, Mrs. Lynch, and plans to conduct a traffic study in the spring.

You're not the first to express concern about the intersection. State Department of Transportation officials told us that requests for a traffic signal led to a study in 2009.

But the results found a light wasn't needed, DOT spokeswoman Eileen Peters said.

"There were no observed [traffic] delays, and the three years of accident history that was reviewed did not warrant the installation of a new traffic signal," she said in a statement.

But conditions may have changed, she said, so the state will conduct a new study to examine the site's accident history, sight distances and traffic volume and delays.

Long Islanders with traffic safety concerns on state roads should contact the DOT's Regional Traffic Engineering and Safety Office at 631-952-6020.

-- MICHAEL R. EBERT