Yesterday's Neighborhood Watch Meeting

Yesterday's Neighborhood Watch Meeting proved successful, even though we didn't have a large turn-out of folks attend. Only about 20 people came as opposed to our last meeting which was very disappointing to me. We pressed forward with our questions and concerns to Town Parks Deputy Commissioner and Kathleen Walsh's Legislative Aide, COPE Officer and Civic Association President anyway.

Today, new signage was placed at park entrances which you can view for yourselves upon passing the park or frequenting it.
The following signs are now in place:

New Town Ordinance Signs
Park Under 24hr Video Surveillance (as an intent to discourage)
Violators will be prosecuted

20 Neighborhood Watch Community Signs were picked up and being installed by us personally and strategically within next few days.

Children at Play signs also to be added shortly.

Electricians have been ordered to install more lighting in park which will take place by end of next week.
Also, by next week, graffiti removal will take place. As a side-note please note that the town spends about $250,000 a year on graffiti removal per year...

Major bush removal and trimming around track to take place in next 4-6wks.

The balance of our issues are being worked on diligently with the Parks Department Commissioner and staff, as well as with Councilwoman Kathleen Walsh's office (who's aide was in attendance last night). We have also reached out to our local Civic Association and will be attending Town Board Meeting and Civic Association Meetings for their support.

We are also working with the Highway Department for "Traffic Calming" and the need for Speed Table or Road Risers (as in front on Sachem North High School (like speed bumps) in front of park entrances on Sycamore Ave. We need funding from grants and are applying for one shortly.

We are also working with Highway Department for a sidewalk to align entire park on Sycamore Ave. especially instead of the dirt walkway we now have.

You will also see STOP signs in our area begin to have a "red reflective strips" down the poles they stand on and next if needed, a white line painted in front in future.

This is going to be a lot of work...but we are committed to our vision of a new park for our community. Unfortunately, we are faced with budget/capital concerns and things will not happen this year. Fall of 2010 starts the new budget year and with our aggressive efforts, we hope to secure funding to make our vision happen.

Thanks to all who attended our meeting last night. I hope our next meeting will have more of a turn-out of attendees. We will have Park Rangers and Code Enforcement/Public Safety at the next meeting.

I am in the midst of trying to secure another meeting place for August...so again, if anyone has any suggestions, please comment on the posts. I have not seen any comments at all...you are all welcome to comment or make any suggestions, give ideas, or let us know of any "goings -on" in the area at any time..this is what the Blog is for...please use it to your advantage.

My Comittee and I will be attending Town Board Meetings, Civic Association Meetings, making phone calls and e-mails, doing research, and, whatever else we have to do to get the job done in our community. We are taking a lot of time out of our daily lives to better our area, and a revival of Dorchester Park is a long time coming and well deserved for us tax payers.


Your Neighborhood Watch Captain