A local resident expressed her frustration with delays in the construction of a new fence at the Williston Townhouse Diner on Monday at a meeting of the Williston Park Board of Trustees.
Lata K. Shah said in public comment that dumpsters from the diner have been left open along an incomplete fence near her house attracting raccoons.
“The dumpsters are not supposed to be there when you are in front of a residence,” Shah said. “You’re supposed to have that area clean.”
Shah said the dumpsters were moved by her home after another resident complained about where they were previously placed.
Building Inspector Kerry Collins rejected Shah’s claims.
Collins, while speaking over Shah, said the dumpsters have been at the same place for as long as he can remember.
“It’s been open since 1942 with the dumpsters in that location,” Collins said.
“It wasn’t there,” Shah responded. “I spoke to the neighbor a couple of houses down and it was there. It was because they got into the argument, it was moved to that place.”
As of Tuesday, the dumpsters were located behind the diner at a corner of the home, diner and a parking lot for the adjacent bank. A decaying red fence and a wall constructed from cinder blocks enclose the space.
Collins said the delay in the new fence came about when the contractor the diner’s owner hired died a month-and-a-half ago. He said the diner’s owner provided him with reassurances that the fence would be completed.
“He said his son is taking care of it,” Collins said. “He said he’s sure the fencing will be erected very shortly because he said he will also go around to the side where the bank is.”
In other developments:
• Village Mayor Paul Ehrbar said there has been ‘no movement in settling the disagreement’ between the Village and the Village of East Williston on its water rate dispute. Last week, officials with the Village of East Williston announced that it would begin the environmental review process required before building a well for themselves.
• Village Trustee William Carr announced that the village will honor four local residents who are currently on active duty with the armed forces by installing a banner featuring their name, picture and branch of service. Carr said the banner should be up featuring four applicants and will be erected at Village Hall in time for the Williston Park Street Fair on Sept. 20.
• Deputy Mayor Kevin Rynne said the Williston Park Little League will hold its 9/11 remembrance ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in Kelleher Field. It will be the ninth year the Little League has held this ceremony, Rynne said.
