Dear Eleanore Turkington:

There are dental offices located on the corner of Church Street between Savin and Kelsey Avenue corner opposite the green and a home daycare/nursery school a few doors down on Church Street that make travel down this street almost impossible. Cars park right up against the stop sign and two vehicles absolutely cannot pass each other on this section of street without one having to give “right of way” to the other. A car traveling down Church Street once raced through the intersection nearly crashing into us because the driver didn’t see the stop sign behind a parked van.

While I appreciate Officer Moscato’s reply for residents to report such violations it is not our responsibility to play traffic cop. I find it very hard to believe that officers do not “see” these violations taking place while they are making their rounds. Also in fifteen years I have never seen one illegally parked car towed during a snowstorm.

I would like to know WHO in the police department is responsible for issuing parking violations. Why aren’t they? Why isn’t the parking ban being enforced? How many parking violations does the WHPD issue each week?

A Taxpayer

Dear Taxpayer:

Officer Angelo Moscato provided us with answers to your questions: 1. Who is responsible for answering Parking Violations? Police officers have the authority to issue parking tickets in West Haven. 2. Why aren’t they and why isn’t the parking ban being enforced? In 2007 officers issued 3,791 parking tickets that generated $50,000 for the city. Due to the weather and minimal snow accumulations, the city has not had to declare any snow emergency parking bans recently. 3. How many tickets does the WHPD issue per week? In 2007 officers issued 3,791 parking tickets that average to be approximately 74 tickets per week.

(Reader’s comment) “While I appreciate Officer Moscato’s reply for residents to report such violations, it is not our responsibility to play traffic cop.

Officer Moscato’s response: “The West Haven Police Department is very proud of the strong partnership we have within our community, but we do not and would not ask our residents to act as police officers. We do value the fact that our residents assist us on a daily basis by being involved in the community and by reporting crimes or other incidents that they observe. It is this partnership that enables our department to be more effective in our service to the community.”

Dear Eleanore Turkington:

I would like to find out if there is any ordinance regulating the use of wood burning stoves in our city. Given the rising cost of fuels, many residents are installing wood burning stoves to heat their homes. Wood burning stoves are notoriously energy inefficient and produce a host of environmental hazards. Because the houses are so close together in our town, the smoke from neighboring homes blows directly into adjoining housing. In my own case, my neighbor’s stove chimney sits below my second floor window. The heavy, gray smoke then blows into the side of my house causing my paint to turn a charcoal color and making it impossible to open the windows in my home. Even with the windows closed, my house stinks of this wood smoke. My children don’t even want to play in the outside because the smoke blows into the yard. I called the Health Department and Zoning Department and neither could answer whether there are any ordinances in place or what can be done about this problem. In fact, they each suggested I call the other department. Why should any person have to be subjected to this avoidable pollution? What are the city’s guidelines on the use of wood burning stoves?

Choking on the fumes!

Dear Choking:

Gripe Vine asked Beth Sabo, Public Works Director to interpret the smoking problem you’re encountering. Sabo replied, “I don’t believe that wood-burning stoves are illegal. I believe that the composition of the smoke as for density and color would regulate it to be in compliance. No person shall cause, suffer or allow to be emitted into the open air from any fuel-burning equipment, process furnace, etc. smoke the shade or appearance of which is equal to our darker than the No. Two of the Ringelmann Chart.”

‘Choking’, I’ve asked Sabo if there are requirements dictated by the Ringelmann Chart she mentioned that regulates how can the average person can determine if the density of smoke is legal or not. I’ll print Sabo’s reply on these questions as soon as they arrive on my desk.

Among topics coming up in Gripe Vine:Trash on Blohm Street… “illegal” gold redeemers…graffiti on city buildings…confusing street signs…improvements awaited on animal shelter property…abandoned Morris Avenue home….no parking sign gripe on Ocean Avenue..and much more.