Yorktown Residents Concerned Over Tree Trunks Hanging Over Road

Three weeks after Superstorm Sandy hit the area and left downed trees, residents are concerned over tree trunks leaning on cables right across the street from Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School in Yorktown.

"Dozens of buses travel back and forth every day along with thousands of commuters," Teresa Hurwitz said. "The remains of these trees hang over the road along with hanging over the wires. It’s an accident waiting to happen which we want to avoid for the children and our residents."

Hurwitz said she or her friends who have called the town of Yorktown have had no response.

"The town’s number just rings," she said. 

Yorktown Supervisor Michael Grace told Patch there was nothing the town could do because that was not the responsibility of the town.

"Verizon has to take them down," he said. "It ends up being their responsibility." 

Grace said the tree trunks are leaning over low voltage communication cables. He said utility companies "get annoyed" if the town starts clearing the roads and workers are not "gentle" with the utility company's wires.

Patch reached out to Verizon regarding the matter. John Bonomo, a spokesperson for Verizon, told Patch on Friday that employees were able to assess the situation on Friday. 

"While the top part of this tree does rest on the [Verizon] cable, the tree itself belongs to the homeowner," Bonomo said. "If Verizon were to cut off the top part that rests on our cable, the rest of the tree would be the responsibility of the homeowner. We do not have the equipment/capability to cut/remove a tree this large."

Bonomo said Verizon reached out to the Yorktown Highway Department to see if they could help remove a large section of the tree, but since Route 132 is a state road, the issue is among the town of Yorktown, the New York State Department of Transportation and the homeowner.

"We have been informed by the Yorktown Supervisor’s office that they contacted NYSDOT, and they will be caring for the tree over the course of the next several days," Bonomo told Patch Friday evening.

What do you think should be done? Are you concerned about the safety of residents? Tell us in the comments below.

Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our newsletter