Briarcliff Manor Village Manager's Weekend Report

From Briarcliff Manor Village Manager Philip Zegarelli:

1.  Getting back to Normal: … the effort continues. A few reminders:

• Storm Related Damage Clean-Up: Our DPW will be working extended hours due to the fact that the 30 day deadline for VBM reimbursement is approaching. Again, you are directed to have your storm debris (both Hurricane Sandy and the nor’easter) at curbside by SUNDAY, 25 November and in manageable sizes so that we have time to pick it up. Please direct questions to DPW at 941-9105. 
• Spot Outages:  If you have repeat outages, report the situation to Con Ed at 1-800-75-CON ED to create a new “ticket”; get the “ticket number” and send the ticket number to me at pzegarelli@briarcliffmanor.org. Con Ed is responsible for your service from the pole to what is called the “splice” at your home. You are responsible from the “splice” to the meter (and into your home electrical panel).  If you have an individual service outage, you need to hire an electrician and file for a VBM Electrical Permit. The work requires inspection... it is for your own protection. Questions: call the Building Department at 944-2770.
• Neighbor-to-Neighbor Damage:  PLEASE … the VBM is not the arbitrator of neighbor-to-neighbor damage such as a tree on private property falling on your neighbor’s property or house.  Both parties need to consult their own insurance company or their own attorney.
• Thanksgiving Week Garbage Pick-Up: Wednesday will combine Wednesday/Thursday pick-ups and East side recycling. No pick-up on Thanksgiving. Normal pick-up resumes on Friday.
• Catskill Shutdown: another sign of normality.  NYCDEP Water shutdown set for this Tuesday but re-opened in advance of Thanksgiving.  All tanks will be topped off.

2.  The Briarcliff Manor Police Benevolent Association will be hosting a clothing and supply drive to benefit the Long Island and Staten Island residents that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy.~ The PBA will be collecting cleaning supplies, baby items, such as diapers and wipes, packaged/unused t-shirts, underwear, socks, gloves, scarves and hats for adults and children.~ Residents can drop off these items at Police Headquarters located at 1111 Pleasantville Road at any time until Friday, 14 December.~

3.  Trails and Fields: Parks and fields are open on a cautionary basis. Please be watchful of your surroundings … especially for tree hangers and other debris.  The Playing fields, especially The Club, will be officially closed until the Spring as of the Thanksgiving Weekend: 24-25 November.  Field work and Winter rehab efforts will be instituted.

4.  Danger: our Fire Department recently responded to the smell of gasoline.  It appears that someone poured old gasoline down the village’s sewer system. STOP … DO NOT DO THIS !!!  I cannot tell you how dangerous this could be or how many violations this equates to.  More importantly, it could create an explosive condition with potentially lethal consequences. Major water flushing of the system had to be done by the FD to lessen the danger.  DO NOT pour any volatiles down any sink, toilet or sewer. Call the Fire Department through the PD (941-2130) for guidelines regarding proper disposal.

5.  Please encourage your neighbors and friends to subscribe to the village’s alert system. We will be looking to enhance the system and format: we found that the flow of information has proven helpful to our residents. Please contact Georgina Gualdino at ggualdino@briarcliffmanor.org to be added or deleted from this alert system.

6.  Question of the Week:  Why haven’t my telephone and cable lines been restored? In some cases, Con Ed replaced their damaged poles with poles they had: many of insufficient height.~ This was done to get your power restored as soon as practical. I have included a picture/diagram of the normal pole line spacing sequence. See next page.