Garden City Considering Suing LIRR Over Utility Poles

GARDEN CITY, NY — The Village of Garden City is holding a public meeting Thursday night to discuss possibly filing a lawsuit against the LIRR over the utility poles that were erected in the village.

The Board of Trustees is holding a meeting tonight at 8 p.m. at St. Paul's Cluett Hall to discuss possible litigation with the LIRR over the 120-foot-high poles that were installed as part of the MTA's Third Track Project.

The board is considering seeking out proposals from law firms to handle the litigation and take other steps to get the LIRR to remove the utility poles.

The village claimed that it was never asked or consulted in the construction of the utility poles, which were put up between the bridge at Nassau Boulevard and Weyford Terrace. They are designed to carry electrical wires and LIRR signals. The village also claims that the poles are in direct conflict with discussions it had with the MTA about the project. But the MTA says that isn't true.

According to the village, the LIRR had previously said that the poles would be located on the north side of the track, not the south. The village claims the installation of the poles is in conflict with discussions it had with the LIRR over the project.

“I personally now would support finding a good law firm and seeing what they had to say. It would certainly feel good to know that [Town of Hempstead] Supervisor Clavin and his attorneys stand with us,” Mayor Theresa Trouvé said ahead of Monday’s executive session at Town Hall.