The Village of New Hyde Park will hold a public hearing on Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. to amend the village code, concerning the removal of double utility poles. Officials say the recent law adopted by the Town of North Hempstead prompted New Hyde Park’s investigation into altering the code.
“They say it’s been very successful,” Mayor Robert Lofaro said. “We have instructed our village attorney to evaluate that law. We want to implement one ourselves.”
Double poles occur when poles are damaged and the utility connections need to be transferred or if a stronger pole is needed to support heavier equipment, according to town officials. When the power company transfers its lines to the new pole, all the other utilities, such as telephone, television and computer lines are notified and instructed to transfer their lines as well. Town officials said that this does not always happen in a timely fashion.
The issue of double poles is not only an aesthetic one, but also one of public safety, according to Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth.
“Often the original pole is cracked, split or damaged and this can cause a safety hazard,” Bosworth said recently. “The utility companies cannot drag their feet when it comes to removing the old poles within a reasonable amount of time.”
According to the town’s law adopted in August 2014, the last utility to remove equipment from a second pole is responsible for its razing. Utility companies have 60 days to remove the second pole or face a $500 fine, the law says. A second fine totals $1,000 and “every day that the violation continues, shall be deemed a separate violation.”
It is unclear if New Hyde Park will adopt similar penalties at this time.
