MEDIA RELEASE

OCTOBER 21, 2008

CONTACT: JOSHUA SLAUGHTER
    Office:  (631) 852-1300
Cell:  (631) 456-1718
 Email: Joshua.Slaughter@suffolkcountyny.gov

Browning Expedites Removal of Dangerous Pole

Dispute Between Builder and Cablevision Left Public at Risk

Mastic, NY – Suffolk County Legislator Kate Browning (WF-Shirley) answered the call of local residents to have a Verizon pole removed from the middle of Main Ave. in Mastic. A dispute over monies owed to Cablevision by Advance Builders, a developer from Yaphank, left the utility pole in the middle Main Ave. for months.

Site plans approved by the Town of Brookhaven required removal of the pole prior to paving the road, which had been a paper street for years. Advanced Builders paved the road before removing the pole from the street, and entered into a dispute over payments to cablevision for removal and relocation of its equipment. The builder paid Verizon for removal of its equipment and relocation of the pole, but argued that Verizon owed the remaining $2,970.61 to cablevision rather then Advanced Builder, who Cablevision billed for the work. This left the pole in the middle of the street creating a public safety hazard for cars accessing Main Ave. from Mastic Road.

“Residents were outraged that a pole was literally sitting in the middle of the road,” stated Browning. “I contacted Verizon immediately and requested that it be removed before someone was seriously injured. I wasn’t going to let an argument over money leave the residents of Mastic at risk.”

Cablevision agreed to remove the equipment without receiving payments owed to them. Immediately after, Verizon took down the pole and a new pole was equipped on the sidewalk nearby. Cablevision still has not received almost $3,000 owed to them.

“It took persistence on my part to convince Cablevision it was in their best interest to remove it before something terrible occurred,” stated Browning. “I want to thank Cablevision for making the right decision, and we need to give a special thank you to Joan Flannery and Kevin McGlinchey for bringing the problem to my attention. Without their vigilance the public would still be in danger.”

Residents can contact Legislator Browning at 852-1300 to report any utility poles that may be a hazard to the community.