Janet Mannion wants the fence of a preserve behind her home in Commack to be repaired. (Newsday photo by Gwen Young)
A fence to keep out trespassers surrounds a Town of Smithtown sump-turned-preserve behind our home. But there’s a large hole in the fence and in 2007, three fires were set in the woods. The opening, adjacent to a LIPA right-of-way, allows the fire-setters, four-wheelers and dirt bike riders free access, creating a dangerous and noisy environment. In June, town safety officers said they would fix the fence, but it’s still not fixed. The police told us that this opening also allowed house burglars to escape from the law as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
--Janet Mannion, Commack
Both LIPA and the Town of Smithtown were quick to respond when we called about Mannion’s complaint. LIPA workers installed “No Trespassing” signs at the opening of its right-of-way for high-tension wires and repositioned a horizontal rod to block vehicles from entering the area. On Monday, town workers are scheduled to install about 60 feet of fencing to close up the opening at the preserve.
Long Island Power Authority spokesman Ed Dumas said the utility was unaware of problems at the right-of-way, which is not considered a dangerous area because the high-tension wire stanchions can’t be scaled. However, he said, “We will do outreach, based upon your call, to see if there’s something we can do with the community that would remedy the situation” with trespassers.
Joe Nowotny, investigations division supervisor for Smithtown’s Department of Public Safety, said a work order to repair the opening in the fence was submitted to the highway department last July, but apparently, the work hadn’t been done. After we called, the area was inspected and Nowotny the job would be done on Wednesday. “Unfortunately, it was a bigger job than we thought,” Nowotny said. “It’s about 60 feet. They’re trying to get the whole thing secured.”
Park rangers are on duty 24-7, he said, and town residents who need to report problems with any town park area should call the hotline number, 631 360-7553.
