Dear Eleanore Turkington:

I wish something could be done to improve the outside of the animal shelter, particularly the grounds. With a city the size of West Haven, the area could look much better. Recently, I visited the Milford Animal Shelter and was impressed with the grounds surrounding the building. There are recycle bins near the entrance but they’re neatly placed near the entrance of the building. There’s a flagpole displaying our flag and although the interior is small and somewhat cramped, the staff seems to manage well in a clean atmosphere. I would also like to know if staff members and/or police officers take the police cars parked outside the shelter building, home when business is done for the day.

Animal Lover

I posed this question to Sgt. Ralph Angelo who is in charge of the shelter. He replied, “The Humane Officers do take their cars home. On a regular basis they are called out in the middle of the night and responding from their homes minimizes the response time to each call. In addition, all Humane Officers live in town which keeps the gas usage very low. The supervisor’s vehicle stays at the shelter. I drive to and from work in my personal vehicle.”

Dear Eleanore Turkington:

On each tax bill, residents are billed for the fire tax. If we own more than one vehicle and have to pay the fire tax on both, I feel we are being taxed double.

WVR

Dear WVR:

Apparently, the city taxes both as separate pieces of property. The fire district also taxes both cars as separate entities. However, I’m curious and other readers have called over a period of time, with similar questions. If any of my readers have questions relating to WVR’s reference to “double taxation,” drop me a note at 666 Savin Ave. or email Gripe Vine at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it By the way, I’ve written to Tax Collector Francis Withington 3 times and have not received any clarification from that department.

Gripe Vine Readers:

I’ve received a number of photos submitted by a reader displaying privately owned property in deplorable condition. Apparently there’s an abandoned oil company at Elm Street and “unsafe conditions” at First Avenue. Hoping there will be space in today’s Voice I’ll place at least one of these pictures in today’s issue.

However, I forwarded these photos to Eileen Buckheit, Planning and Development indicating possible unsafe conditions at this site. Here is what Buckheit had to say about these sites, “The property on First Avenue has an approved site plan for housing. They will be coming into our office for demolition permits in the near future.

We are very aware of the properties located on Elm Street. The building in the picture is not owned by the same person as the dock; they are two different owners. The building in the picture is occupied and has no safety issues.

We consistently speak to the owner of the former oil company and dock about fencing and safety issues and have had orders for him to clean and secure his site several times.

The city has installed a fence on the side of the city-owned property so the dock is not accessible from our property. We regularly contact the Police Department if it looks like there are any trespassers on the site and they respond promptly. The site is unoccupied and on the market for sale.”

Gripe Vine Readers:

The animal shelter is in need of CANNED cat food; any brand with the exception of Nine Lives which the cats do not seem to eat well. A couple of brands the cats do seem to enjoy are Friskies, Wal-Mart and Stop & Shop. The shelter does not need dry cat food at this point because we do get more donations of dry food from retail stores when bags are damaged. There is also a need of large towels and regular litter.

The shelter can also make arrangements to pick up larger donations should anyone choose to do so. Please call 937-3642 and leave a message for Sgt. Angelo who will arrange pickups. “Any help would be appreciated,” said Sgt. Angelo.

In a recent column, a reader wrote of the unsightly conditions at the Workmen’s Circle Cemetery on Farwell Street. “Trash and garbage strewn around, older stones tipped over and a tree at the back of the cemetery that had fallen over.”

After some extensive research, I was able to speak to Andy Hotis, a representative in charge of maintenance of cemeteries in the greater New Haven area who was familiar with the conditions at this cemetery. He indicated that there are more than 40 cemeteries in the greater New Haven area and all of them dependent on contributions to maintain these sites. “Some of them are in more of a need to be improved than others. We are aware of the conditions at the Workman’s cemetery and will try to make improvements as soon as we can.”

Dear Eleanore Turkington:

I am sending this e-mail to ask for two more stop signs at the corner of Blohm Street and Washington Avenue to make it a four way stop. This corner has an accident almost every week because people cannot see around the parked cars. Today, Oct. 29, there was another one involving a school bus. Luckily no one was seriously hurt, but I took a picture of it with my cell phone and attached it.

KS

Dear KS:

I forwarded your complaint to Officer Angelo Moscato at the Crime Prevention Department at the West Haven Police Department. Officer Moscato replied, “ I contacted Sgt. Pimer in the Traffic Division regarding the intersection of Washington Avenue and Blohm Street. Sgt. Pimer researched the number of accidents that have occurred at that location, and his research revealed that there were 4 accidents at that location this year, and that there were only 3 accidents in 2007.

The intersection has only had a few accidents over the past several years and does not meet the Uniformed Traffic Control requirements for the placement of additional stop signs.

The West Haven Police Department is dedicated to enforcing traffic laws and our officers have stopped numerous motor vehicles at that location and throughout the city for motor vehicle violations.”