|
|
|
Correspondence>
Fire Dept substation
Aug 25, 2011 --
August 10, 2011
Cold Spring Harbor Fire District
Chairwoman Karen Neilsen
Members of the Board of Fire Commissioners
2 Main Street
Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
Re: Proposed Sub-Station on Pulaski Road
Dear Chairwoman Neilsen and Members of the Board:
It has been almost 3 years since representatives of your Board of Fire Commissioners addressed the Cold Spring Hills community at our 2008 Annual Meeting to discuss the feasibility of utilizing the “Wicks Barn” as a fire department sub-station. At that time, you explained the need for approval from the County to lease the building for a nominal fee. Renovations would be required for flooring, walls, heat, water and electric. Support from our community was overwhelming. Response time would be improved.
Since that October 2008 meeting, we have written to you asking for information on the status of the proposed sub-station. No answer has ever been received.
A sad and frightening incident on the Sunday of Memorial Day week-end reinforced our concerns relating to fire truck and ambulance response times. A resident of Greenview Circle called 911 after her husband, Stephen Fitts, lost consciousness. The response time was so slow that a relative called Huntington First Aid Squad. Cold Spring Harbor eventually arrived and Stephen was taken to Huntington Hospital. He did regain consciousness but passed away a few days later.
It has come to our attention that Route 108 was closed at the time of the Fitts’ call. Why wasn’t the emergency crew notified of this? If Route 108 was closed, why wasn’t Syosset/Woodbury or Huntington Manor called? This is not the first time that response time has been affected because of Route 108. A number of years ago there was a devastating fire on Monfort Drive during rush hour. Obviously, the fire trucks had difficulty reaching Cold Spring Hills during rush hour.
Our community is at the southern tip of the Cold Spring Harbor Fire District. We pay proportionate taxes and expect the same level of service that residents in the rest of the district receive. However, the fire trucks and ambulance crews are hampered by our location. A sub-station on Pulaski Road would allow vehicles and trained responders to reach our residents and homes in times of emergency.
We respectfully request an update on the status of the Pulaski Road sub-station. We urge you to consider the needs of our residents of Cold Spring Hills.
Sincerely,
Gayle Snyder, Chairperson Executive Board
Cc: Residents of Cold Spring Hills
Suffold County Legislator Jon Cooper
Suffolk County Legislator Lou D’Amaro
|
|
