Police Department News
From time to time in this column, I will be including information from Commissioner Kenneth Jackson of our police department. This week he has asked that I include the following.
Residents are reminded that harsh wintery weather conditions often wreak havoc to outside electrical security systems, particularly, exterior lighting and alarm systems. During winters such as we have experienced this year, electrical wires and systems are exposed to extreme deteriorating conditions. Residents and business owners are reminded to check these systems to ensure optimum performance.
Fire Department News
From time to time, in this column, I will be including information from Chief William Castoro of our fire department. This week he has asked that I include the following.
On Sunday, March 8, as you changed your clocks, please remember to also change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The National Fire Protection Association reports that 71 percent of smoke alarms which failed to operate had missing, disconnected or dead batteries, making it important to take this time each year to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Here are some safety points about smoke & carbon monoxide detectors:
• Put smoke alarms on every floor of your home. Also, in every bedroom and in the hallway outside of each sleeping area.
• Place smoke alarms on the ceiling or high on the wall. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the best place for your alarm.
• What if the alarm goes off while I’m cooking? Then it’s doing its job. Do not disable your smoke alarm if it alarms due to cooking or other non-fire causes. You may not remember to put the batteries back in the alarm after cooking. Instead clear the air by waving a towel near the alarm, leaving the batteries in place. The alarm may need to be moved to a new location. Some of the newer models have a “hush” button that silences nuisance alarms.
• Amanda’s Law requires that every one or two-family dwelling, condominium, cooperative and each unit of a multiple dwelling shall have an operable carbon monoxide (CO) detector. Under Amanda’s Law, homes built before Jan. 1, 2008 are permitted to have battery-powered CO alarms, while homes built after this date are required to have the alarms hard-wired into the building. Additionally, Amanda’s Law requires contractors to install a CO alarm when replacing a hot water tank or furnace if the home is not equipped with an alarm. CO detectors are required only if the dwelling unit has appliances, devices or systems that may emit carbon monoxide or there is an attached garage.
• The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that one CO alarm be installed in the hallway outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area of the home. CO alarms may be installed into a plug-in receptacle or high on the wall. Hard-wired or plug-in CO alarms should have battery backup. Avoid locations that are near heating vents or that can be covered by furniture or draperies. CPSC does not recommend installing CO alarms in kitchens or above fuel-burning appliances.
• The most important thing to remember, is that if your detector goes off, to exit your home and contact the fire department for a response. Remember, carbon monoxide is odorless, and colorless, and the only way to detect this poisonous gas is through the use of the CO detector and fire department metering equipment.
For more safety tips, please visit www.gcfdny.com. Some residents do not believe that a smoke detector activation is an emergency, and dial our business line to report the activation. If you have a detector activated or need a fire department response, please be sure to dial 516-746-2800. Remember, we are just a phone call away.
Budget Work Sessions
I would like to remind you that the board of trustees will be conducting its final work session to review the proposed 2015-16 village budget on Thursday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m.
This session is scheduled to be held in the boardroom at village hall located at 351 Stewart Ave. All residents are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Board Of Trustees Meeting
The next regularly scheduled board of trustees meetings will be held on Thursday, March 19 at 8 p.m. I hope to see you at this meeting as well as the budget meeting.
