1997-06-05
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June 5, 1997
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Ms. Constance Smith
Town of Wappinger Supervisor
Middlebush Road
Wappinger Falls NY 12590
Dear Ms. smith:
Thank you for taking the time to speak to me on the phone regarding
an on-going drainage problem in front of my residence on Cedar Hill
Road. I have enclosed three letters that I mailed to Mr. Foster
following phone and in-person discussions with him regarding this
issue. As I stated to you, I have been dealing with this issue
since May of 1996. It is my understanding that Mr. Foster has
previously contacted the Town Attorney and Town Engineer and there
was nothing that they could do. Since that time, two auto accidents
and a man cracked a transmission in the rut caused by the
drainage.I believe this issue is foreseeable, and the liability is
solely the Town of Wappinger.
I would request a written letter from the Town of Wappinger
explaining when this issue will be corrected. I will not take
anymore time off from work to meet with Mr. Foster regarding this.
I look forward to your reply.
S7e1Y ·
~~~
Richard T. Cullen
374 Cedar Hill Road
Fishkill NY 12524
(914) 896-8456
September 27, 1996
Mr. Graham Foster
T/O Wappinger Highway Department
Middlebush Road
Wappingers Falls NY 12590
Dear Mr. Foster:
I contacted you back in May of this year and spoke of a drainage
problem on Cedar Hill Road in front of my house. At that time you
explained that you were quite busy with the townwide pick up and
you would address my concern at that time. Possibly this has
slipped your mind.
You had mentioned that you created a curbing at my neighbors
residence so runoff water would continue down the hill. The water
know has eroded quite a path at the edge of the road that borders
my property. This past winter I had a truck catch his right wheel
in this "ditch" and pulled the truck onto my rock wall.
Fortunately, their was minimal damage to the truck, my wall and no
injuries.
My concern is that this ditch has only gotten deeper over the
summer. The water is not channeled properly to the catch basin you
installed, and continues across the bottom of my driveway. The
force of the water is now eroding under the edge of my driveway
closest to the catch basin. I am aware that you had a backhoe in
to trench behind the dirt area between my house and the gunclub.
My problem is I really do not want the water coming across my
driveway. This will freeze in the winter creating a hazardous
condition for me when entering and exiting my property.
As I had stated on the phone, I appreciate all the work and help
you and your department have done in the past. I bring this to your
attention as a potentially hazardous condition, especially since
a accident has occurred already.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
Thank You.
SiPy, "
Y~~~ee___
Richard T. Cullen
374 Cedar Hill Road
Fishkill NY 12524
(H) 896-8456
(W) 451-1300
October 11, 1996
Mr. Graham Foster
T/O Wappinger Highway Department
Middlebush Road
Wappinger Falls NY 12590
Dear Graham:
Thank you for responding to my letter regarding the drainage on
Cedar Hill Road in front of my residence. Our phone conversation
on Wednesday, October 10th, 1996 was a little disheartening in the
fact that you don't see any remedy to this situation. As I had
stated on the phone, I have seen an increase in water flow down the
hill since your staff installed the blacktop curb from up past my
two neighbors. I understand that this was done to stop water from
entering their driveways. However, since you corrected this problem
you have increased my drainage problem. All the water from the hill
by passes the storm drain and crosses my driveway causing erosion.
Rather than complain, I would like to offer a solution. It appears
to me that the volume of water that comes down the hill has formed
its own channel as a result of its own natural flow. Could the town
trench the current path of the water and black top the channel into
the storm drain? Currently the water bypasses the drain because of
its own erratic path. If the water were properly channeled into the
drain less water would therefore bypass the drain.
From our conversation, I also understood you would contact the town
engineer and/or the town attorney. Please let me know the result
of those conversations.
Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
Richard Cullen
374 Cedar Hill Road
Fishkill NY 12524
(H) 896-8456
(W) 451-1300
January 29, 1997
Mr. Graham Foster
Town of Wappinger Highway Department
Albany Post Road
Wappinger Falls NY 12590
Dear Graham:
I wish to inform you that I am st~ll encountering problems with the
drainage on Cedar Hill Road ~n front of my residence. Your
department had installed a small curbing and blacktop at the bottom
of my driveway in the late fall of 1996. This blacktop was added
between the town installed storm drain and my mailbox.
As I have stated in each phone conversation and follow-up letter
the problem exists because of the additional curbs up the hill that
the Town installed. All the water from the hill is forced to stay
on the roadway and continue down to my residence. When I asked you
why the stormdrain doesn't handle all the water, you said it wasn't
large enough. Then you constructed this "overflow" running past my
driveway. I have resided in this town for thirty five years and I
have never experienced this problem.
As you are aware, drainage problems from both sides of the road
created a massive ice buildup on the hill in front of my house on
January 28th, 1997. This resulted in an auto accident that was
reported to the New York state Police. Additionally, upon my
arrival home I was unable to negotiate a turn into my driveway,
due to the ice, skidding past my driveway. Your crews were here on
the morning of January 29th, 1997 and utilized a backhoe to improve
drainage on the opposite side of the road. This was an improvement
for that side of the road. As I have previous requested, why can't
a swale be created on my side of the roadway to funnel the water
into the storm drain? Originally, you stated that this can't be
done. When you repaved the upper part of Cedar Hill this fall,
specifically Theresa Blvd., a blacktop swale was created. This was
then run off into the woods. Also, if your intent is to keep all
the water in the roadway, then why not install sufficient
stormdrains to handle the water? I think the fact of intentionally
keeping the water in the roadway, is foreseeable that in the winter
this water will freeze in the roadway. As I have repeatedly stated
this is a hazard that needs to be addressed.
I am requesting to meet with you and Town Supervisor Constance
Smith to view the current situation and plan a resolution.
Please feel free to contact me.
Richard T. Cullen
374 Cedar Hill Road
Fishkill NY 12524
(H) 896-8456 (W) 451-1300
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