Snow Removal Problems In Manorhaven

Temperatures may be in the 40s, but snow removal, or in some cases the lack thereof, still weighs heavily on some Manorhaven residents. That was the focus of an abbreviated Village of Manorhaven Board of Trustees meeting, which was held on Thursday.

John, a Manorhaven resident who said he would rather not provide his last name, wanted to know what the Village is doing about snow removal, especially in the case of properties involving absentee landlords.

Village Attorney Gerard Terry said it is a violation when a property owner does not remove snow in front or near their home or building, which is deserving of a summons.

“A summons has to be properly served to be valid in New York,” said Terry. “In the case of absentee landlords the Village sends the summons by certified mail with a return receipt request. This is a procedure the Village has enacted for many years.”

However, Terry explained in several cases the certified mail goes unanswered, and the summons letter comes back to the Village. Yet, there might be another plan, which is under discussion with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office and the court itself to tackle this problem.

“This plan would involve engaging a process server to serve an individual in person,” said Terry. “There are many repeat offenders with this issue and it is offensive to everyone. In addition, it is about violating the Village code.”

Village Mayor Michael T. Meehan said that it is crucial to make people more responsible to the Village of Manorhaven. Other Manorhaven residents at the meeting said they have watched people slip and fall on icy patches.

“The absentee landlords have to learn to be responsible property owners,” Board Trustee Patrick Gibson said.